The nickel base superalloy X-750 is a nickel-chromium-titanium-aluminum alloy that is suitable for high temperature applications and corrosive environments. Among others applications, it can be used in helical springs manufacturing acting as a structural component in nuclear reactors. The titanium presence at levels of about 2.5wt% gives the alloy high strength by precipitation of the coherent phase γ'. According to the standard AMS 5698G, the wire of X-750 alloy to be used in helical springs manufacturing must be subjected to a solution heat treatment and then be cold reduced by approximately 15% of its area. After the reduction, the spring is shaped as well as precipitation heat treated and air cooling. However, there is not enough data in the scientific literature to characterize the mechanical properties, particularly resistance levels as a function of these hardening mechanisms. This paper aimed to study different processing routes to obtain wires of X-750 alloy in order to maximize the properties for helical springs applications according to the last pass drawing deformation degree. The different processing steps were characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and mechanical properties by Vickers hardness and tensile. As expected, the resistance gain due to deformation was proportional to the deformation degree applied. On the other hand, however, the aging heat treatment contribution is reduced with the deformation degree increasing, resulting in a yield stress increasingly dependent on the hardening degree.
X-750 nickel base superalloy; springs; mechanical properties
