Primary and secondary dendrite spacing of Ni-based superalloy single crystals

Ni-based superalloy single crystals were grown by different methods (gradient method and Bridgman technique with spontaneous nucleation and with seed). In all crystal growth experiments using the Bridgman technique, the temperature gradient along the vertical furnace axes was constant (G = 33.5 °C/cm). The obtained single crystals were cut, mechanical and chemical polished, and chemically etched. Using a metallographic microscope, the spacing of the primary and secondary dendrites was investigated. The dendrite arm spacing (DAS) was determined using a Quantimet 500 MC. The obtained results are discussed and compared with published data.