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Influence of Matrix Microstructure On Aging Response of Near Alpha Titanium Alloy (IMI834) Parent Metal and Welds On Toughness
Influence of Matrix Microstructure On Aging Response of Near Alpha Titanium Alloy (IMI834) Parent Metal and Welds On Toughness
1 Microstructure of a parent metal (azb)-STA, b parent metal b- ST, c friction weld and d electron beam weld
Elements C Sn Zr Si Mn Cr Ni Mo Al Cu Fe Nb H O N
wt-% 0.06 4.37 3.84 0.42 ,0.005 0.01 0.008 0.58 5.72 0.056 0.015 0.70 11* 944* 19*
*Parts per million b-transus: 1055uC.
b-ST (Fig. 3a). Scanning electron microscopy back Table 2 Nomenclature and respective heat treatment*
scatter image also shows formation of precipitates along
the lath boundaries in the case of post-weld aged friction Material Heat treatment Designation
welds as compared to as welded welds (Fig. 4). As the
Parent 1020uC/2 h/OQ (azb)-ST
precipitates are very fine they could not be analysed.
Parent 1020uC/2 h/OQz700uC/2 h/AC (azb)-STA
From the reported literature they are proposed to be fine Parent 1080uC/20 min/Ar C b-ST
b12,17–19 as well as silicides.12,20 X-ray diffraction showed Parent 1080uC/20 min/Ar Cz700uC/2 h/AC b-STA
peak splitting subsequent to aging supporting precipita- Weld z700uC/2 h/AC (post-weld aging) PWA
tion reaction during aging.
*ST: solution treated; STA: solution treated and aged; OQ: oil
quenching; AC: air cooling; ArC: argon cooling.
Mechanical properties
The impact toughness and notch tensile properties of the resulted in a drastic reduction in impact toughness. The
welds and parent metal are presented in Table 4. It is toughness of welds in the post-weld heat treated
observed that the impact toughness of friction welds condition is similar to that in b-STA condition. (azb)-
(12–13 J) and electron beam welds (10–13 J) are STA parent metal exhibited higher impact toughness
comparable in the as welded condition although scatter than the b-STA parent metal. Reduction in the notch
is predominant in electron beam welds. Post-weld aging tensile strength has also been observed in the post-weld
Table 3 Optimised weld parameters for electron beam and friction welding
Welding speed, Voltage, Current, Friction force, Forging force, Burn-off length, Rotation speed,
m min21 V mA kN kN mm rev min21
aged condition. The deleterious effect of aging on the Fractographic examination of the impact samples
notch tensile strength is more pronounced in the electron exhibited ductile fracture features in the as welded
beam welds possibly due to coarser prior beta grain size condition (Fig. 5d and f) and brittle fracture features in
of electron beam welds compared to friction welds. the post-weld aged condition (Fig. 5e and g). Fracture
features were ductile in the b-ST condition (Fig. 5b) and
a (azb)-STA parent metal; b b-ST parent metal; c b-STA parent metal; d as welded friction weld; e post-weld aged fric-
tion weld; f as welded electron beam weld; g post-weld aged electron beam weld
5 Fractographs of impact toughness samples
Acknowledgements
The authors express their gratitude to Defence Research
and Development Organization for the financial support
to carry out this programme. The authors are thankful
a b-ST parent metal; b b-STA parent metal to Dr G. Malakondaiah, Director DMRL for his
6 Typical crack path in impact toughness sample continued encouragement and support. The authors
Published by Maney Publishing (c) IOM Communications Ltd