Heat-resistant and high-temperature materials are used to manufacture components, devices, and systems operated at high temperatures, i.e. under severe heat loads. Gas turbines used in the power industry, the traction, marine, and aircraft engines, the aerospace technology, etc. are good examples of such systems. Generally, as the temperature increases, the mechanical strength of materials decreases. While making such materials, there is a tendency to keep possibly low thermal weakening. In the course of operating gas turbines, various kinds of failures/defects/ damages may occur to components thereof, in particular, to blades. Predominating failures/damages are those attributable to the material overheating and thermal fatigue, all of them resulting in the loss of mechanical strength.
The paper has been intended to present findings on changes in the microstructure of blades made of nickel-base alloy due to high temperature. The material gets overheated, which results in the deterioration of the microstructure’s condition. The material being in such condition presents low high-temperature creep resistance. Any component, within which such an effect occurs,
is exposed to a failure/damage usually resulting in the malfunctioning of the turbine, and sometimes (as with aero-engines) in a fatal accident. Failures/damages of this kind always need major repairs, which are very expensive.
