Abstract: A method of heat treating a superalloy component includes solution heat treating the component at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus temperature to produce a fine grain structure. Insulation is placed over a first area to form an insulated assembly that is placed in a furnace at a temperature below the solvus temperature and maintained at that temperature for a predetermined time to achieve a uniform temperature. The temperature is increased at a predetermined rate to a temperature above the solvus temperature to maintain a fine grain structure in a first region, produce a coarse grain structure in a second region and produce a transitional structure in a third region between the first and second regions. The insulated assembly is removed from the furnace when the second region has been above the solvus temperature for a predetermined time and/or the first region has reached a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a superalloy component includes solution heat treating the component at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus temperature to produce a fine grain structure. Insulation is placed over a first area to form an insulated assembly that is placed in a furnace at a temperature below the solvus temperature and maintained at that temperature for a predetermined time to achieve a uniform temperature. The temperature is increased at a predetermined rate to a temperature above the solvus temperature to maintain a fine grain structure in a first region, produce a coarse grain structure in a second region and produce a transitional structure in a third region between the first and second regions. The insulated assembly is removed from the furnace when the second region has been above the solvus temperature for a predetermined time and/or the first region has reached a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a superalloy component comprises solution heat treating the component at a temperature below the gamma prime solvus temperature to produce a fine grain structure in the component. Insulation is placed over a first area of the component to form an insulated assembly. The insulated assembly is placed in a furnace at a temperature below the solvus temperature and maintained at that temperature for a predetermined time to achieve a uniform temperature in the component. The temperature is increased at a predetermined rate to a temperature above the solvus temperature to maintain a fine grain structure in a first region, to produce a coarse grain structure in a second region and to produce a transitional structure in a third region between the first and second regions of the component.

Abstract: A method for shear forge bonding two or more metal parts having forging compatible compositions is comprised of the steps of sizing parts to be joined across a forged bond line, disposing those parts in forging dies configured to present them in a bonding-effective orientation, shearing surfaces, one on each of the metal parts, located proximately and opposite one another across a gap, under controlled conditions of temperature and atmosphere selected to prevent the formation of any bonding disruptive surface contamination on the sheared surfaces, and then finally forging those parts to close the gap and bring the sheared surfaces into contact under controlled conditions of temperature, pressure, atmosphere, and outer diameter constraint to yield a shear forged bond between the sheared surfaces.