The effect of TIG welding on the structure and hardness of butt joints made of Inconel 718

The tests discussed in the article aimed to analyse the structure and hardness of the heat affected zone and that of the weld in thin butt joints (1.0 mm) made of Inconel 718 using the TIG method and variable welding linear energy restricted within the range of 45 J/mm to 80 J/mm. The test joints were subjected to visual tests, macro and microscopic metallographic tests, scanning electron microscopy-based structural observations and hardness measurements. The tests concerned with the effect of the TIG welding of butt joints made of 1.0 mm thick sheets (Inconel 718) in laboratory conditions revealed that the most favourable quality of the sheets was obtained when welding arc linear energy was restricted within the range of approximately 45 J/mm to 80 J/mm. An increase in linear energy within the above-presented range led to an increase in the width of the weld and that of the HAZ (observed in the joints subjected to macroscopic metallographic tests). In addition, an increase in linear energy restricted within the aforesaid range increased the grain size in matrix γ (in the HAZ) from approximately 10 μm–20 μm. The structure of the weld contained the zone of columnar grains oriented towards the fusion line as well as large groups of primary grains having the dendritic structure with clearly visible axes of primary dendrites of varied orientation. In addition, the weld structure also contained precipitates in the form of low-melting eutectics located in interdendritic spaces.