TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 498/1994
By P L Threadgill and B G I Dance
Background
Ordered intermetallic alloys are a group of materials which are currently generating intense interest due to their remarkable properties, particularly high temperature mechanical properties, resistance to oxidation, and in many cases low density. Although these alloys have been known for many years, it is only recently that developments have begun to overcome the historical problem of low ductility at ambient temperatures. It is now appropriate to investigate manufacturing processes such as joining, and this report presents data on a range of typical, but very different, alloys.
The work presented in this report develops earlier work at TWI on linear friction welding of an alpha (Ti3Al) based alloy, and a review of joining alpha2 (Ti3Al) and gamma (TiAl) titanium aluminides. This study extends the work to joining of gammaTiAL, Ni3Al and Fe3Al based alloys by fusion and solid state processes, and also reviews currently available data on joining of nickel and iron aluminides.