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The inertia friction welding behavior of similar (LSHR to LSHR or Mar-M247 to Mar-M247) and dissimilar (LSHR to Mar-M247) alloy pairs was determined. The relationships between the IFW process parameters and welding response, such as the kinetics and efficiency of the transformation of the mechanical energy of the flywheel into heat of joining samples, weld duration, kinetics of flash formation, and bond quality were identified. Conditions resulting in sound welding were determined. It was found that the mechanistic behavior of each of the alloys during dissimilar welding can be approximated by the behavior of the respective alloy during similar welding. By contrast, the microstructure, microhardness and the thickness of the heat affected zone depended on the type of the alloy pair used during IFW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in the elevated temperature mechanical properties of cast Mar-M247 and forged LSHR make it difficult to produce sound joints of these alloys by inertia friction welding (IFW). While extensive plastic upset occurs on the LSHR side, only a small upset is typically developed on the Mar-M247 side. The limited plastic flow of Mar-M247 thus restricts the extent of 'self-cleaning' and mechanical mixing of the mating surfaces, so that defects remain at the bond line after welding. In the present work, the effect of local preheating of Mar-M247 immediately prior to IFW on the welding behavior of Mar-M247/LSHR couples was determined. An increase in the preheat temperature enhanced the plastic flow of Mar-M247 during IFW, which resulted in extensive mechanical mixing with LSHR at the weld interface, the formation of extensive flash on both the Mar-M247 and LSHR sides, and a sound bond. Performed in parallel with the experimental work, finite-element-method (FEM) simulations showed that higher temperatures are achieved within the preheated sample during IFW relative to its non-preheated counterpart, and plastic flow is thus facilitated within it. Microstructure and post-weld mechanical properties of the welded samples were also established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of inertia friction welding process parameters on microstructure evolution, weld plane quality, and the tensile behavior of welds between dissimilar nickel-base superalloys was established. For this purpose, the fine-grain, powder metallurgy alloy LSHR was joined to coarse-grain cast Mar-M247 using a fixed level of initial kinetic energy, but different combinations of the flywheel moment of inertia and initial rotation speed. It was found that welds made with the largest moment of inertia resulted in a sound bond with the best microstructure and room-temperature tensile strength equal to or greater than that of the parent materials. A relationship between the moment of inertia and weld process efficiency was established. The post-weld tensile behavior was interpreted in the context of observed microstructure gradients and weld-line defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure, tensile properties, and fracture behavior of the inertia friction weld joints of dissimilar superalloys, cast Mar-M247 and wrought LSHR, were studied to assess the weld quality. Tensile tests were conducted at 23 and 704 °C on the samples containing different areas of the weld interface of the same welded material. The stress-strain curves were registered at different axial distances from the weld interface. In all tested samples, plastic deformation was localized on Mar-M247 side, outside the heat-affected zone (HAZ), and the resistance to plastic deformation of Mar-M247 increased with a decrease in the distance from the weld interface inside HAZ. Only elastic deformation occurred on the LSHR side. Fracture occurred on the Mar-M247 side, outside HAZ, or at the weld interface. In the latter case, welding defects in the form of clusters of nanometer-sized oxide and carbide particles were observed at the fracture surfaces. These results revealed that the IFW process is capable of producing the weld joints between Mar-M247 and LSHR with the fracture strength higher than that of Mar-M247. However, optimization of the IFW processing parameters is required to minimize clustering of oxide/carbide particles at the weld interface in this alloy pair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the strengthening mechanisms associated with the as-welded microstructure developed during inertia friction welding of dissimilar superalloys LHSR and Mar-M247. The weld interface and heat affected regions of the sample were analyzed using hardness indentation techniques and subsequently characterized using SEM, TEM and advanced atom probe tomography. The yield strength of the welded joint was modeled to determine the impact of the gradients in the as-welded microstructure on strengthening mechanisms within the LSHR material. Characterization centered on formation of γ′, γ grain size and chemical segregation within the heat affected regions. Results indicate an increased hardness in the vicinity of the weld interface, resulting from the refined dispersion of γ′ and γ grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]