Reaction-Diffusion Bonding of High Nb Containing TiAl Alloy

In this study, high Nb containing TiAl alloy (TAN) was welded by reaction-diffusion bonding using Al foil as interlayer at 1200 °C for 2 h. The desired full lamellar microstructure (γ+α2) was obtained across the bonding seam when the joint was heat-treated according to the heat treatment process of TAN alloy. The present paper also investigated microstructure and bonding mechanism in details. The results show that liquid Al can react with TAN to form TiAl3 intermetallic layer, and then the TiAl3 layer will transform to γ-TiAl by solid-state diffusion at high temperature, finally a full lamellar structure is formed after heat treatment. Furthermore, sound joints with full lamellar structure can be also obtained when TAN alloy is directly bonded in accordance with the heat treatment cycle of TAN alloy.