| Abstract Scope |
This study evaluates the retention of rare earth element (REE) additions in a nickel-based superalloy during vacuum induction melting (VIM). Computational modeling guided experimental design; however, results highlight the importance of melt processing conditions. Sixteen REEs were introduced and melted at ~1300 °C for ~1 hour under argon at ~0.5 and ~1.0 atm. At lower pressure, significant losses were observed, particularly for Y and Ce, with most elements exhibiting high volatility and reactivity with the Al₂O₃ crucible. Increasing inert gas pressure reduced losses for several elements and enabled recovery of some additions, though behavior varied across the REE series. Notably, deviations from predicted trends emphasized the role of partial pressure and interfacial reactions in governing stability. These findings demonstrate that REE retention is strongly influenced by gas atmosphere, crucible interactions, and melt history, providing practical guidance for scaling computationally designed alloys to VIM production. |