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Title: Chemistry of glass-ceramic to metal bonding for header applications: III. Treatment of Inconel 718 to eliminate hot cracking during laser welding

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6454838· OSTI ID:6454838

A study was conducted to determine the weldability of Inconel 718 shells. Two pieces of Inconel 718 were welded together with a Hastelloy B-2 filler. The Inconel surface condition was varied by heat-treating and by using several different cleaning processes. The surface chemistry following each modification was determined by Auger spectroscopy. Each conditioned Inconel hollow cylinder (shell) was also checked for pulsed laser weldability by looking for hot cracking. Abraded and solvent-cleaned Inconel shells were found to have thin surface oxides and were also found to be weldable. Heat-treated shells were shown to have a thick complex oxide layer consisting primarily of chromium, titanium, aluminum, and niobium, and were not found to be weldable. Variations of an ''oxide removal'' treatment were used and found to be ineffective in removing all of the heat-treated surface oxides. The predominant oxide left after the various removal treatments was a thick aluminum oxide laced with alkali, alkaline earth and nickel oxides, sulfides (or sulfates), and/or chlorides. Inconel shells after being treated by these oxide removal steps and variations were also found not be be laser weldable. This oxide was finally removed by electropolishing, and the resulting surface was found to be crack-free after welding. Auger analysis of fractured surfaces in hot-cracked regions revealed that the surfaces consisted of an oxide similar to that left after the removal steps, but without the aluminum oxide. Thus, it was concluded that hot cracking in heat-treated, oxide-removed Inconel 718 is due to one or all of the following: alkali, alkaline earth and nickel oxides, sulfides (or sulfates), and/or chlorides that accumulate in the cracked area.

Research Organization:
Mound Plant (MOUND), Miamisburg, OH (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00053
OSTI ID:
6454838
Report Number(s):
MLM-3425; ON: DE87010639
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English