Anisotropy on Mechanical Properties of CMSX-6 Ni-Base Superalloy Single Crystal Using Profilometer Indentation Plastometer (PIP) and Small Punch Test (SPT)

Abstract

Validating alternative techniques for accurately determining true mechanical properties—particularly yield stress, which cannot be reliably derived from hardness testing—remains a significant challenge. In this work, we investigate the anisotropy of the mechanical properties of the CMSX-6 Ni-base superalloy single crystal using both the Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry (PIP) and the Small Punch Test (SPT). The obtained results are compared with each other and with values reported in the literature. This study examines the complex interpretation of mechanical property data obtained from three experimental approaches and explores how these results can be correlated. One of the main challenges addressed is the characterization of a highly anisotropic material—a nickel-based single crystal—in its three principal crystallographic orientations, < 001 > , < 101 > , and < 111 > , to assess the accuracy of the employed techniques. The results demonstrate that the combined use of the PIP and SPT methods provides consistent and reliable measurements, with an estimated deviation of less than 12% in the yield stress obtained.