Dislocation Densities and Velocities within the γ Channels of an SX Superalloy during In Situ High-Temperature Creep Tests

The high-temperature creep behavior of a rafted [001] oriented AM1 Ni-based single crystal superalloy was investigated during in situ creep tests on synchrotrons. Experiments were performed at constant temperatures under variable applied stress in order to study the response (plastic strain, load transfer) to stress jumps. Using two different diffraction techniques in transmission (Laue) geometry, it was possible to measure the average lattice parameters of both the γ matrix and the γ ′ rafts in the [100] direction at intervals shorter than 300 s. The absolute precision with both diffraction techniques of the constrained transverse mismatch (in the rafts’ plane) is about 10−5. After stress jumps, special attention is given to the evolution of plastic strain within the γ channels. The relaxation of the Von Mises stress at leveled applied stress shows evidence of dislocation multiplication within the γ channels. From the analysis, we showed an interaction between plastic stress and dislocation density of the γ phase.