Weld Formation, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Welded TC4 Titanium Alloy with Activating Fluxes

CaF2, NaF and Na2SiF6 were chosen as activating fluxes for laser welding of Ti(6)A(14)V (TC4) alloy. During the welding process, the laser-induced plasma images above the weldment were captured with a high-speed camera. After welding, the weld penetration and the width of the weld were measured and the microstructure was observed by an optical microscope. Then, the morphology of acicular martensite in the weld was studied by EBSD, and the element composition of the weld was determined by energy spectrometer. The hardness and tensile strength of the joints were tested. The results show that the activating fluxes change the surface state of the weldment and compress the laser-induced plasma area, thereby increasing the laser absorptivity and the area of the weld melting zone. Besides, all the activating fluxes can increase the penetration depth and reduce the top weld width of the partial penetration weld, and reduce the top weld width while increase the middle and bottom weld widths of the penetration weld. It is also found that for the welds coated with CaF2, NaF and without activating fluxes, the beta columnar crystals on the upper part of the welds all grow towards the weld surface, while for the welds coated with Na2SiF6, the beta columnar crystals on the upper part of the welds grow towards the weld center. The activating fluxes have no obvious effect on the growing direction of the beta columnar crystals of the lower part of the weld. Na2SiF6 can significantly refine the acicular alpha' in the beta columnar crystals of the upper part of the welds in the laser welding of TC4 alloy. The tensile strength of the welded joint coated with Na2SiF6 is increased by 12.5%. Compared with other activating fluxes, Na2SiF6 has the most prominent effect on the weld formation and mechanical property of the laser welded TC4 titanium alloy, and thus it can be used as the most preferred activating flux.