Microstructure and high-temperature mechanical properties of laser beam welded TC4/TA15 dissimilar titanium alloy joints

Abstract

The microstructure evolution and high-temperature mechanical properties of laser beam welded TC4/TA15 dissimilar titanium alloy joints under different welding parameters were studied. The results show that the weld fusion zone of TC4/TA15 dissimilar welded joints consists of coarsened β columnar crystals that contain mainly acicular α′ martensite. The heat affected zone is composed of the initial α phase and the transformed β structure, and the width of heat affected zone on the TA15 side is narrower than that on the TC4 side. With increasing temperature, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the TC4/TA15 dissimilar welded joints decrease and the highest plastic deformation is obtained at 800 °C. The tensile strength of the dissimilar joints with different welding parameters and base material satisfies the following relation (from high to low): TA15 base material > dissimilar joints > TC4 base material. The microhardness of a cross-section of the TC4/TA15 dissimilar joints reaches a maximum at the centre of the weld and is reduced globally after heat treatment, but the microhardness distribution is not changed. An elevated temperature tensile fracture of the dissimilar joints is located on the side of the TC4 base material. Necking occurs during the tensile tests and the fracture characteristics are typical when ductility is present in the material.