High-order additions to platinum-based alloys for high-temperature applications

Abstract

Platinum-based alloys are being developed with microstructures similar to nickel-based superalloys for potential high-temperature applications in aggressive environments. Since the chemistries of nickel and platinum are similar, Pt-based alloys can be made with gamma prime -Pt3Al precipitates in a gamma (Pt) matrix. Currently, the Pt-Al-Cr-Ru system is one of the bases for developing Pt-based alloys, where Al allows the formation of the Pt3Al precipitate and also gives protection from the alumina scale formed, Cr provides oxidation resistance and stabilization for the L12 -Pt3Al phase, and Ru provides solid solution strengthening in the (Pt) matrix. Four Pt-Al-Cr-Ru-V and two Pt-Al-Cr-Ru-V-Nb alloys were made, with compositions based on a quaternary alloy, ~Pt82:Al12:Cr4:Ru2, which had previously been identified as having optimum properties. Four of the as-cast alloys had the targeted two-phase structure of ~Pt3Al and (Pt), and two were single-phase -PtjAl. Vanadium partitioned more to (Pt) than to -PtjAl. There was an improvement in hardness compared to the quaternary alloys. The best addition of V was -15 at.%; higher additions resulted in brittle intermetallic phases of the Pt-V system. The effect of Nb could not be ascertained because of its high losses.