Influence of filler material on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and residual stresses in tungsten inert gas welded Ti-5Al-2.5Sn alloy joints

The microstructure and defects in the weld zone affect the weldment characteristics. One way to improve the microstructure and reduce the defects in the weld zone is by using a filler during welding which influences the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the manufactured component. In the present study, tungsten inert gas (TIG) was used to weld Ti-5Al-2.5Sn alloy using different titanium alloy fillers; Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-5Al-2.5Sn, and autogenous weldments were also produced. The welded joints were characterized in terms of their microstructure, mechanical properties, and residual stresses in its various regions. The weldment with Ti-6Al-4V as filler exhibited a higher proportion of α′ martensite in fusion zone, as compared to the welded joint with Ti-5Al-2.5Sn alloy as filler, owing to the higher proportions of β stabilizers present in Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The α’ martensite was present in basketweave and acicular morphology in all the weldments, with and without fillers. Ti-6Al-4V filler welded joint showed higher tensile strength (approximately 1144 MPa) and relatively higher hardness than Ti-5Al-2.5Sn filler welded joint (approximately 1027 MPa) and autogenous weldment (approximately 770 MPa), due to increased amount of martensite in its fusion zone. As compared to the weldment produced with Ti-5Al-2.5Sn filler, the welded joint produced without filler and with Ti-6Al-4V as a filler had more compressive residual stresses at surface (approximately 25% higher), leading to less amount of pile up after nanoindentation. This was attributed to the generation of compressive strains due to martensitic transformations in the fusion zone of both these weldments.