EVALUATION OF FLOW PROPERTIES IN WELDMENTS OF VANADIUM ALLOYS USING NOVEL INDENTATION TECHNIQUE

A new approach, known as automated ball indentation testing, was succe ssfully employed to determine the flow properties of gas tungsten arc and electron beam welds of C-4Cr-4Ti and V-5Cr-5Ti alloys. The results showed clear distinction among the properties of the fusion zone, hea t affected zone, and base metal in both welds of the two alloys. The t wo welds of both vanadium alloys in the as welded condition showed str engthening (as well as hardening) of fusion zone and heat affected zon e (compared with base metal), with the fusion zone having higher stren gth than the heat affected zone. However, the gas tungsten arc welds o f both alloys, after a post-weld heat treatment of 950 degrees C for 2 h, showed a recovery of properties. These measurements correlated rea sonably well with the reported recovery of the Charpy impact propertie s of the welds after the post-weld heat treatment.