Structure and thermal cycling stability of a hafnium monocarbide reinforced directionally solidified cobalt-base eutectic alloy

A nominal composition of Co-15Cr-2ONi-10.5 Hf-0.7 C (NASA-HAFCO-11) was directionally solidified at 0.8 cm/hr growth rate to produce aligned HfC in a cobalt matrix alloy. The aligned HfC fibers were present as rod and plate types. The diameter of the aligned fibers was about 1 micron, with volume fraction in the range of 11 to 15 percent. The growth direction of the fibers was parallel to the 100. The NASA-HAFCO-11 alloy was subjected to thermal cycling between 425 deg and 1100 C, using a 2.5 minute cycle. No microstructural degradation of the HfC fibers in the alloy was observed after 2500 cycles.