Dissimilar Laser Welding of a NiTi Shape Memory Alloy to Ti<sub>2</sub>AlNb
Fuguo Ge,
Bei Peng,
João Pedro Oliveira,
Wenchao Ke,
Fissha Biruke Teshome,
Yongmei Li,
Zhi Zeng
Affiliations
Fuguo Ge
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Bei Peng
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
João Pedro Oliveira
UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Wenchao Ke
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Fissha Biruke Teshome
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Yongmei Li
Beijing North Vehicle Group Corporation, Beijing 100072, China
Zhi Zeng
School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
NiTi-based shape memory alloys and the Ti2AlNb alloy have gained increasing importance in the aerospace field. The joining of these two materials can further increment the importance and usage of these relevant engineering materials and expand their potential applications. However, when joining NiTi-based shape memory alloys to Ti-based alloys, the formation of brittle Ti-rich intermetallic compounds often occurs, significantly limiting their functionality and use. Dissimilar joints between a NiTi shape memory alloy and Ti2AlNb alloy were obtained using a 0.1 mm thick Niobium (Nb) interlayer via laser welding. By process optimization, sound joints were obtained. The microstructure evolution was assessed by means of electron microscopy, whereas the mechanical strength of the joints was evaluated using lap shear tensile testing. The best performing joints were seen to fracture at maximum loads above 1230 N, thus allowing us to consider this dissimilar pair for structural applications.
