Experimental
Two nickel-based superalloys, MarM-247 (MARM) and CMSX-4 (CMSX) with
compositions shown in Table 1 were chosen for experimentation based on their widespread
usage in airfoils on jet powered aircraft and their solidification characteristics. MARM being
polycrystalline and CMSX being SX capable. Both the MARM and CMSX powders were
produced by Praxair Surface Technologies through an atomization process. Prior to usage the
powders were heated in an argon purged vacuum oven for 24 hours at 200 °C. This was done in
order to remove any moisture that may have been absorbed into the powder.