Hot pressing diffusion bonding of a titanium alloy to a stainless steel with an aluminum alloy interlayer

The probability and appropriate processing parameters of hot pressing diffusion bonding (HP–DW) of a titanium alloy (TC4) to a stainless steel (1Cr18Ni9Ti) with an aluminum alloy (LF6) interlayer have been investigated. The microstructure of the bonded joints has been observed by optical microscopy, SEM, XRD and EDX, and the main factors affecting hot pressing and diffusion bonding process were analyzed. The results showed that atom diffused well and no intermetallic compound or other brittle compounds appeared at optimum parameters. The fracture way of joints was ductile fracture. With the increment of bonding temperature, large number of intermetallic compounds such as FeAl6, Fe3Al, FeAl2 which were brittle appeared along the interface between the stainless steel and the aluminum alloy interlayer, as a result, the quality of joints was decreased significantly and the fracture way of joints was brittle fracture.