GRAIN SIZE AND TOUGHNESS OF TI-6AL-4V ELECTRON BEAM AND TIG WELD DEPOSITS

Electron beam (EB) and Gas tungsten arc (TIG) welds were performed on 12.7 mm thick Ti-6Al-4V plate (ASTM Titanium Grade 5). Charpy-V toughness and hardness, as well as, microstructure of the welds and penetration from the macrostructure were studied. It appears that by EB welding rather smaller $\beta$-grains than with TIG welding can be obtained. Next to the fusion line the $\beta$-grain size in the HAZ was 50 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$l while in the weld metal it was 150 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. Charpy-V toughness of the EB weld metal was equal or even better to that of base metal, which shows that the $\alpha$-martensite per se is not particularly brittle if only the grain size is fine enough. This is similar to behavior of low carbon martensite in steel. The grain size was studied with light optical and scanning electron (SEM) microscopes. Thus for products, for products which can be manufactured automatically with very narrow fit, the EB welding of Ti-6Al-4V appears to yield satisfactory toughness without any complex post weld heat treatment. ill this study as in earlier studies the TIG welds gave lower toughness than that of the base material due to the higher heat input and slower cooling as compared to EB welding.