Welding characteristics of Inconel alloys with YAG laser beams

Abstract

It is difficult for heat resisting alloys to be welded together, and a few data on welding of Inconel that represents Ni-base heat resisting alloys have been reported, although there is an active demand for the complicated form processing of these alloys. In this study, each pair of Inconel 713C and Inconel 718 plates was butted and was welded with YAG laser beams through a quartz glass in the atmospheres of the air, of a vacuum and argon. Multi-pulse laser beams were irradiated to the material with different laser outputs. Four-point bending tests were performed to evaluate the welding characteristics. By considering the experimental results, appropriate conditions for welding Inconel were found as follows: It is possible to weld Inconel materials under the condition of a short pulse width on the side of biggest pulse energy without occurring the blow in the welding surface. It is unable to weld Inconel 713C in the atmosphere of the air or of a vacuum, although it is possible to weld it in argon. It is possible to weld Inconel 718 in the air or in argon, however it is unable to weld it in a vacuum because of the blow of welding surface.