Analysis of laser beam weldability of Inconel 738 superalloy

Journal Article · Sat May 15 04:00:00 UTC 2010 · Materials Characterization

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATCHAR.2010.02.016· OSTI ID:22066214

Egbewande, A T ^[1]; Buckson, R A ^[2]

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1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton (Canada)
2. Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (Canada)

The susceptibility of pre-weld heat treated laser beam welded IN 738 superalloy to heat affected zone (HAZ) cracking was studied. A pre-weld heat treatment that produced the minimal grain boundary liquation resulted in a higher level of cracking compared to those with more intergranular liquation. This deviation from the general expectation of influence of intergranular liquation extent on HAZ microfissuring is attributable to the reduction in the ability of the base alloy to accommodate welding tensile stress that accompanied a pre-weld heat treatment condition designed to minimize intergranular liquation. Furthermore, in contrast to what has been generally reported in other nickel-based superalloys, a decrease in laser welding speed resulted in increased HAZ cracking in the IN 738, which can be attributed to exacerbated process instability at lower welding speeds.

• OSTI ID: 22066214
• Journal Information: Materials Characterization, Journal Name: Materials Characterization Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 61; ISSN 1044-5803; ISSN MACHEX
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
HEAT AFFECTED ZONE
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HEAT TREATMENTS
INCONEL 738
LASER WELDING
STRESSES
WELDABILITY
WELDED JOINTS