Aging of the OT4-VT23, VT6-VT23, VT19-VT23 Titanium Welded Pairs

Abstract

The structure, the phase composition and microhardness over the section of welded joints aged at 500 and 550 °C have been studied by means of structural and microdurometric analyzes. The welded joints of OT4-VT23, VT6-VT23 and VT19-VT23 titanium alloys pairs were obtained by the argon-arc welding with a nonconsumable tungsten electrode. It has been established that the aging at 500 °C for 8 hours promotes the decomposition of metastable phases (b, a”) which formed after welding in the welded joint of VT19-VT23 titanium alloys pair. The decomposition process leads to strengthening of the main zones of the welded joint (except for the parent metal of VT23 alloy) and provides a favorable smooth change of microhardness in the joint during the transition from one alloy to another. The aging at 500 and 550 °C during 8 hours of the welded joints of OT4-VT23, VT6-VT23 titanium alloys pairs also led to the development of the decomposition of metastable phases (b, a”, a’) in the weld and heat affected zones of the alloys being joined, but did not provide the required monotonic change in microhardness over the cross section of the joint.