High strength electron beam welded titanium–stainless steel joint with V/Cu based composite filler metals

Composite V/Cu based filler metals for electron beam welding of titanium–stainless steel joint were designed, based on the element metallurgical compatibility. Powder metallurgy method was used to manufacture the filler metal. To determine the feasibility of these filler metals, microstructures were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated by tensile strength tests. The feasibility of the Cu/V filler metal was poor for the differences in physical properties between copper and vanadium, vanadium and titanium. A non-fusion defect was produced in the joint under low heat input, and cracking occurred in the joint under higher heat input due to the continuously distributed brittle TiCu, TiFe and τ2 compounds. However, such defects were eliminated using a powder metallurgical V/Cu–V filler metal. A joint with a tensile strength of 395 MPa, 72% of that of the stainless steel was obtained. And almost no intermetallics were detected in Ti/V/Cu–V/Fe joint.

► EB-welded Ti/V/Cu/Fe joint had a tensile strength of 288 MPa.
► Lack fusion or cracks emerged in EB-welded Ti/V/Cu/Fe joints.
► EB-welded Ti/V/Cu–V/Fe joint had a tensile strength of 395 MPa.
► IMCs and weld defects disappeared in EB-welded Ti/V/Cu–V/Fe joint.