Characterization of titanium welded joints by the orbital gas tungsten arc welding process for aerospace application

Garcia, José A. Orlowski de; Lima, Gérson Luiz de; Pereira, Wilson D. Bocallão; Guimarães, Valdir Alves; Moura Neto, Carlos de; Paranhos, Ronaldo Pinheiro R.

doi:10.5028/jatm.2010.02026710

Abstract:

In this work, three welding programs for orbital gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), previously developed, were used, using pulsed current and increasing speed (#A), constant current (#B) and pulsed current and decreasing current (#C). One of these should be used for the propulsion system of the Satellite CBERS (China - Brazil Earth Resources Satellite). Welded joints using tubes of commercially pure titanium were obtained with these procedures, which were characterized by means of mechanical and metallographic tests. The obtained results showed that the three welding procedures produce welded joints free of defects and with adequate shape. Although small differences on mechanical properties and on microstructure have been observed, the three welding programs attained compatible results with international standards used in the aerospace segment. The welding program #B, due to the reduced heat input used, was considered to obtain slightly advantage over the others.

Keywords:
Orbital GTAW; Titanium; Satellite

Full text is available only in PDF.

REFERENCES

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» https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00662-0

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
May-Aug 2010

History

Received
06 May 2010
Accepted
09 June 2010

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

[1] American Society for Metals (ASM), 1997, "Fractography", 9th ed, ASM, Ohio, USA.

[2] American Welding Society (AWS), 2000a, "AWS B4.0M:2000. Standard methods for mechanical testing of welds", AWS, Miami, FL, USA.

[3] American Welding Society (AWS), 2000b, "AWS D10.6/ D10.6M:2000. Recommended practices for gas tungsten arc welding of titanium pipping and tubing", AWS, Miami, FL, USA.

[4] Arc Machines, Inc., 2001, "Orbital welding delivers treatment plant on time". Welding Journal, Mar., pp. 51-52.

[5] Barreda, J.L., et al, 2001, "Electron bean welded high thickness Ti6Al4V plates using filler metal of similar and different composition to the basic plate". Vacuum, Vol. 62, No 2-3, pp.143-150. doi: 10.1016/S0042-207X(00)00454-1.
» https://doi.org/10.1016/S0042-207X(00)00454-1

[6] Brond, A., Henon, B.K, 2000, "Orbital welding technology for pharmaceutical piping systems". Latin American Phamaceutical Show, Centro Costa Salguero, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Available at: <http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/atw02.html>. Access on Oct 24, 2001.
» http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/atw02.html

[7] Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST), n.d., "Chinese Standard CBERS propulsion subsystem pipe integrating and welding requirement (specification)".

[8] Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST), n.d., "Chinese Standard CBERS propulsion subsystem pipe leakage check requirement (specification)".

[9] Danielson, P., Wilson, R., Alman, D, 2003, "Microstructure of titanium welds", Advanced Material & Processes, Vol. 161, No 2, pp. 39-42.

[10] Dieter, G.E., 1981, "Metalurgia mecânica", 2nd ed, Ed. Guanabara Koogan, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 653p.

[11] Gould, J.E., Becker, D., Williams, J.C., 1980, "Microstructural characterization of titanium weldments", In: Kossowski, R., Glicksman, M.E. (Eds.), "Physical Metallurgy of Metal Joinning", The Metallurgical Society of AIME, Warrendale, PA, USA, pp. 199-221.

[12] Henon, B.K., n.d., "Matsushita completes ultra high purity nitrogen system reducing contaminants to PPB levels". Available at: <http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/masca02.html>. Access on Oct 22, 2001.
» http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/masca02.html

[13] Henon, B.K., n.d., "Practical application of orbital tube and pipe welding", Reprinted of Practical Welding Today. Available at: <http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/pract02.html>. Access on Nov 17, 2001.
» http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/pract02.html

[14] Henon, B.K., 1998, "Orbital welding of small diameter tubing", Reprinted of Tube International, 03/1998, Available at: <http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/smalldia02.html>. Access on Oct 24, 2001.
» http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/smalldia02.html

[15] Lathabai, S., Jarvis, B.L., Barton, K.J., 2001, "Comparison of keyhole and conventional gas tungsten arc welds in commercially pure titanium", Materials Science and Engineering A, Vol. 299, No 1-2, pp. 81-93. doi: 10.1016/S0921-5093(00)01408-8.
» https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(00)01408-8

[16] Littlewood, G., Henon, B.K., 2000, "A case study of the installation of an orbitally welded higienic piping system". Reprinted of Pharmaceutical Technology Europe, 03/2000. Available at: <http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/pharmeo02.html>. Access on Oct 10, 2001.
» http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/pharmeo02.html

[17] Mannion, B., 1999, "The fundamentals of orbital welding", Welding Design and Fabrication, Feb., pp. 22-26.

[18] Morgan, J., Henon, B.K., 1999, "Discovering applications for orbital fusion welding". Reprinted of The Tube & Pipe Journal, 03/1999. Available at: <http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/tpj02.html>. Access on Oct 24, 2001.
» http://www.arcmachines.com/appPages/tpj02.html

[19] Orbimatic, n.d., "Origins and development of orbital welding", Available at: <http://www.subcontractingtalk.com/news/orb/orb131.html>, Access on Apr 11, 2003.
» http://www.subcontractingtalk.com/news/orb/orb131.html

[20] Orlowski J.A.G, et al, 2007, "Development of the Welding Technology of Titanium by the Orbital TIG Process for the Brazilian Airspace Segment. Part 1: Experimental Setup". Soldagem & Inspeção, Vol. 12, No 1, pp.46-54.

[21] Sundaresan, S., Ram, G.D.J., Reddy, G.M., 1999, "Microstructural refinement of weld fusion zones in α-β titanium alloys using pulsed current welding". Materials Science & Engineering A, Vol. 262, No 1-2, pp. 88-100. doi: 10.1016/S0921-5093(98)01010-7.
» https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(98)01010-7

[22] Wulpi, D.J., 1999, "Understanding how components fail". 2nd ed. ASM International, Ohio, USA, 262p.

[23] Yung, W.K.C, et al, 1997, "An investigation into welding parameters affecting the tensile properties of titanium welds". Journal of Materials Processing Technology, Vol. 63, No 1-3, pp. 759-764. doi: 10.1016/S0924-0136(96)02719-7.
» https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(96)02719-7

[24] Yunlian, Q., et al, 2000, "Electron beam welding, laser beam welding and gas tungsten arc welding of titanium sheet". Materials Science & Engineering A, Vol. 280, No 1, pp. 177-181. doi: 10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00662-0.
» https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00662-0

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