Experimental research on electron beam welding of titanium alloy to stainless steel based on Cu/V filler metals with different shapes

Electron beam welding experiments of TA15 titanium alloy to 304 stainless steel using Cu/V filler metals with different shapes were carried out in present paper. Microstructure and mechanical properties of welding joints were examined. The results showed that the weld with lamellar structure Cu/V filler metal was characterized by solid solutions of vanadium, copper and iron. But an incomplete fusion defect was detected in bottom weld for the unmelted vanadium layer. The tensile strength was 288 MPa. When a wedge-shaped filler metal was used, microstructure remained the transition of various solid solutions. Meanwhile, the incomplete fusion defect was eliminated. Tensile strength reached 385 MPa, up to 75% of that of stainless steel. The weld zone with unmelted vanadium layer was the weakest part of the joint and facture occurred in this region in the joints welded with Cu/V filler metal with different shapes.