Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Electron Beam-Welded Titanium-Steel Joints with Vanadium, Nickel, Copper and Silver Filler Metals

Electron beam welding experiments of titanium alloy to stainless steel with V, Ni, Cu and Ag filler metals were carried out. The interfacial microstructures of the joints were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. Mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated according to tensile strength and microhardness. The results showed that all the filler metals were helpful to restrain the Ti-Fe intermetallics formed in the Ti/Fe joint. The welds with different filler metals were all characterized by solid solution and interfacial intermetallics. And the type of solid solution and interfacial intermetallics were depended on the metallurgical reactions between the filler metals and base metals. The interfacial intermetallics were Fe₂Ti + Ni₃Ti + NiTi₂, TiFe, Ti₂Ag, and Cu₂Ti + CuTi + CuTi₂ in the joints welded with Ni, V, Ag, and Cu filler metals, respectively. The tensile strengths of the joints were primarily determined by the hardness of the interfacial intermetallics. The highest tensile strength was obtained in the joint welded with silver filler metal, which is about 310 MPa.