Characterization of titanium welded joints by the orbital gas tungsten arc welding process for aerospace application
doi: 10.5028/jatm.2010.02026710

José A. Orlowski de Garcia*
Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço
São José dos Campos – Brazil
orlowski@iae.cta.br

Gérson Luiz de Lima
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais
São José dos Campos – Brazil
gerson.lima@lit.inpe.br

Wilson D. Bocallão Pereira
Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço
São José dos Campos – Brazil
pistolinha@iae.cta.br

Valdir Alves Guimarães
Univers. Estadual Paulista
Guaratinguetá – Brasil
valdir@feg.unesp.br

Carlos de Moura Neto
Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
São José dos Campos – Brazil
mneto@ita.br

Ronaldo Pinheiro R. Paranhos
Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense
Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
paranhos@uenf.br

*author for correspondence

Abstract:

In this work, three welding programs for orbital gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), previously developed, were used, using pulsed current and increasing speed (#A), constant current (#B) and pulsed current and decreasing current (#C). One of these should be used for the propulsion system of the Satellite CBERS (China – Brazil Earth Resources Satellite). Welded joints using tubes of commercially pure titanium were obtained with these procedures, which were characterized by means of mechanical and metallographic tests. The obtained results showed that the three welding procedures produce welded joints free of defects and with adequate shape. Although small differences on mechanical properties and on microstructure have been observed, the three welding programs attained compatible results with international standards used in the aerospace segment. The welding program #B, due to the reduced heat input used, was considered to obtain slightly advantage over the others.

Keywords:

Orbital GTAW, Titanium, Satellite.

J. Aerosp.Technol. Manag., São José dos Campos, Vol.2, No.2, pp. 211-218, May-Aug., 2010
Received: 06/05/10
Accepted: 09/06/10