Ultrasonic vibration-assisted welding: an in situ practical approach to reduce embrittlement of L605 cobalt-based superalloy laser beam welds
摘要
Cobalt-based superalloys are popularly used in high-performance applications in severe environments. L605 is considered a workhorse among cobalt-based superalloys, which throws certain challenges during fusion welding, i.e., sluggish melt pool behavior, hot cracking tendency, severe heterogeneity in weld metal composition, and embrittlement of fusion welds. The present article addresses how ultrasonic vibration-assisted laser beam welding has reduced the extent of embrittlement in L605 cobalt-based superalloy welds. The detailed metallurgical characterizations, vide optical metallography, electron back scattered diffraction, X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and investigation of mechanical properties revealed that the epitaxially grown columnar grains meeting at weld center line and formation of detrimental laves phase are the reasons for weld zone embrittlement. The prevailing mechanism behind ultrasonic vibration-assisted laser beam welding in creating relatively fine-grained weld microstructure and in reducing the embrittlement of welds is detailed.