Notched Tensile and Impact Fracture of Ti-15-3 Laser Welds

Abstract

The notched tensile strength (NTS) and impact toughness of Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (β-type titanium alloy Ti-15-3) laser welds aged at temperatures ranging from 590 K to 866 K (317 °C to 593 °C) were determined, and the results were compared to those of unwelded Ti-15-3 plates aged at the same temperature. At a given aging temperature, α precipitates in welded specimens were finer and exhibited higher hardness than those in unwelded specimens. Among the tested specimens, the weld aged at 644 K (371 °C) was most susceptible to notch sensitivity. In those welds aged at or above 755 K (482 °C), the coarse columnar structure was prone to interdendritic fracture during notched tensile tests, which reduced the NTS of the weld relative to that of the unwelded plate aged at an equivalent temperature. Of the tested specimens, the weld that was not subjected to the postweld aging treatment possessed the highest impact toughness among the specimens.