Creep anisotropy dominated by orientation rotation in Ni-based single crystal superalloys at 750°C/750 MPa

•The tensile creep was conducted on Ni-based single crystal superalloys with different orientations at 750 °C/750 MPa.•The creep properties were highly anisotropic in different orientation specimens.•The orientation rotation would dominate the creep anisotropy.•The orientation rotation would occur during the entire creep process, the greater the degree of rotation, the more severe the asynchrony of rotation, which would result in the nonuniform deformation and local stress concentration, and exacerbate the failure of the specimen.