Which superalloy materials benefit most from deep hole drilling?

Nickel-Based Superalloys

Nickel-based materials are the primary beneficiaries of deep hole drilling due to their use in high-temperature environments and components requiring complex internal cooling. Grades such as Inconel 718, 625, 713, 738 and 939 are widely drilled in turbine blades, combustor liners and fuel passages. Their high strength at temperatures above 1,000 °C demands efficient heat management, which is achieved through internal channels created via superalloy deep hole drilling. These holes help control creep deformation and prevent thermal cracks.

Powder metallurgy grades such as FGH96 and FGH97 also benefit from precision drilling for lubrication or weight reduction channels in turbine discs and rotors.

Single-Crystal Superalloys

High-performance alloys like CMSX-4 and CMSX-10 used in first-stage turbine blades require accurate cooling passages to maintain microstructural stability. Their anisotropic crystal structure demands precise drilling parameters to avoid crack initiation along crystallographic planes. When combined with post-processing such as heat treatment and HIP, deep hole drilling maximizes fatigue resistance and extends operational life.

Cobalt and Hastelloy Alloys

In erosion or corrosion-sensitive environments, cobalt-based alloys such as Stellite 6 and Haynes 188 are frequently drilled to form lubrication channels for moving components. Similarly, nickel-chromium alloys like Hastelloy C-276 support deep drilling for chemical resistance and pressure control in high-performance valves and pumps.

Application-Driven Material Selection

Material selection depends on thermal load, operating pressure and required fatigue life. In sectors such as aerospace and aviation, power generation and oil and gas, deep hole drilling provides the thermal efficiency and structural optimization needed to meet demanding service conditions.