The microstructures of a [001] single crystal nickel--base superalloy at differentstages of the constant loading tensile creep were observed by means of TEM and SEM, and thechemical compositions of γ and γ' phases were analyzed by EDAX in order to investigate theprocess and mechanism of the directional coarsening of γ' phase. The results showed that themesh--like rafts were formed along the direction normal to the stress axis in a mode of side--planelink in primary creep. The applied stress resulted in the ...