High-temperature Superalloy Design
DESIGN PROJECT
This final project for ENGN 1410: Physical Chemistry of Solids employed the Pandat modeling software to generate a phase diagram of the Ni-Al system.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Build a thermodynamic model of the Ir-Zr system, a promising high-temperature superalloy. While Ni-Al superalloys are common, this project examines the Ir-Zr system to determine the potential properties of and Irridium Zirconium superalloy and compare it to existing Nickle Aluminum allows.
SOLUTION
This project was carried out using Pandat's thermodynamic modeling software. A tdb file was coded create the phase diagram. The known melting point and formation entropy of the Ir3Zr compound was used as a reference point for generating the diagram.
Once coded and generated the phase diagram could be used to determine certain properties of Ir3Zr, a compound of interest on the phase diagram. For example, the entropy of formation, specific enthalpy, and melting temperature could be determined. The extremely high melting temperature of the alloy predicts that it is able to undergo significant work hardening, thus making it very desirable for applications that require strong high-temperature alloys, such airplane turbines.
In comparison to a Ni-Al alloy, in the Ni3Al configuration, which costs $9.56 per kilogram, it was determined that the Ir3Zr alloy would cost an astounding $46,498.73 per kilogram. Despite its superior properties, the prohibitively high cost of the Ir3Zr makes its use economically disadvantageous.
