Direct friction welding of Ti Al alloy to 40 Cr steel rods was conducted, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resultant joints in as-welded and post-weld heat treatment（PWHT） states were investigated. The martensitic transformation occurred and brittle Ti C phase formed near the interface due to C agglomeration, which degraded the joint strength and increased the microhardness at the interface in as-welded state. Feathery and Widmanstatten structure generated near the interface on Ti Al alloy side. After PWHT at 580 °C and 630 °C for 2 h, the sorbite formed and C dispersed at the interface, leading to the increase of the joint strength from 86 MPa in as-welded state to 395 MPa and 330 MPa, respectively. The heat-treated specimen fractured with quasi-cleavage features through the zone 1 mm away from the interface on TiA l alloy side, but the as-welded specimen failed through the interface.
Dissimilar metal joining of Ti-6AI-4V （TC4） titanium alloy to as-rolled 40Cr steel rods was conducted with friction welding, and the effect of post-weld heat treatment （PWHT） on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resultant joints was investigated. The average tensile strength of the as-welded joints reached 766 MPa and failure occurred in 40Cr steel base metal. However, after PWHT at 600℃ for 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 h, the tensile strength of the joints decreased and fracture happened through the interface with quasi-cleavage features. The bending angle of specimens was improved from 9.6° in as-welded state to 32.5° after PWHT for 2 h. The tensile strength of the joint was enhanced by martensitic transformation near the interface in as-welded state. Sorbite formed near the interface in PWHT state and improved the bending ductility of the joint. TiC brittle phase formed at the interface after PWHT for 0.5 h and deteriorated the tensile strength and bending ductility of the joint. After PWHT for 2 h, no TiC phase was detected at the interface. The microhardness on the interface in as-welded state was higher than that after PWHT, indicating that the decrease of microhardness around the interface could be accompanied by degradation of tensile strength but improvement of bending ductility of the joints.
