Jacqueline B. Wahl, Ken Harris

Cannon-Muskegon Corporation
[SPS Technologies]

Muskegon, Michigan USA

The industrial gas turbine (IGT) industry has become an important market for producers of investment cast superalloy products. Applications range from airmelt alloys, such as X-40, X-45 and FSX-414 for low pressure turbine blades and vanes, and N-155 for exhaust rings and final exit vanes, to Hastelloy® alloy X and Haynes® alloy 230 for combustor components, transition ducts and heat shields, and vacuum cast directionally solidified (DS) and single crystal (SC) alloys for complex cored high pressure turbine airfoils. A transition from conventionally cast equiaxed IN738LC/C and IN939 to DS and single crystal alloys (some containing Re) is occurring in the high pressure turbine. The size of components produced using DS and single crystal technology has increased dramatically; DS turbine blades have been successfully cast in lengths up to three feet. As projections for this industry indicate significant and continued growth, this paper attempts to provide an overview of applications of airmelt and vacuum superalloys in the industrial gas turbine market.