Although less researched than their nickel-base counterparts, cobalt-base superalloys are a superb material for applications where high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance are essential. Inevitably, exposure to such environments leads to the alloy becoming contaminated with a variety of elements. Some of these contaminants can impair the mechanical properties of the alloy, shortening the lifetime of the alloy. As little as 100 ppm could be enough to compromise the alloy mechanically. Furthermore, once the trace and tramp element contaminants are within the microstructure of the alloy, they are persistent and difficult to remove. This provides an additional challenge when it comes to recycling and reusing serviced material.

My project sets out to investigate the impact trace and tramp elements have on the mechanical properties of cobalt-base superalloys. The mechanisms behind the accumulation and segregation of the trace and tramp elements, as well as the critical levels required to compromise the mechanical integrity of cobalt-base superalloys, will be explored.