Progress in application of rare metals in superalloys

Rare metals play an important role in development of superalloys. Over the last two decades, the application of the rare metals in superalloys has achieved progress significantly. They present multi-beneficial effects for strengthening the matrix and the γ′ phase, increasing the lattice misfit, cleaning the grain boundary, improving the carbides and eutectics, refining the grain, stabilizing the oxidation film, etc., so that the elevated temperature rupture life and elevated temperature oxidation resistance are improved significantly, leading to a broad application in the superalloys. In order to meet the higher demand for better superalloys in the future, more intensive research is necessary on the effects of the rare metals on the superalloy, and especially on the combination effect of various rare metals and mutual influence among them. Utilization of the computational materials science and combinatorial high throughput experiment will be of importance in application of rare metals in superalloys.