Solid state deformation welding process, friction welding, has been developed for joining precipitation hardened nickel-base alloys and other gamma prime-strengthened materials which heretofore have been virtually unweldable. Method requires rotation of one of the parts to be welded, but where applicable, it is an ideal process for high volume production jobs

Moore, T. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

June 1972
	 B72-10288 
•	
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Lewis Research Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tec Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Joining Precipitation-Hardened
Nickel-Base Alloys by Friction Welding
Al 
S
The problem:.	 - 
The use of precipitation-hardened nickel-base alloys 
in welded structures has been limited because of cracking 
that occurs around the welded joints during or after 
fusion welding. Cracks result from the thermal expansion 
and contraction that occur during fusion welding, and 
also from the precipitation of the gamma prime crystal-
line phase which gives the nickel alloys their precipita-
tion hardening properties. This cracking problem has 
rendered the higher content, gamma prime-strengthened 
nickel-base alloys virtually unweldable by even the most 
advanced fusion welding techniques. 
The solution: 
A solid-state deformation welding process; friction 
welding. 
How it's done: 
In a recent study, 1.25-cm (1h-inch) diameter bar 
stock of a representative precipitation hardening nickel-
base alloy (Udimet 700) was successfully butt welded 
using a stored energy (inertia) friction welding machine. 
This method of utilizing the discharge of energy from a 
flywheel to rotate one part to be welded, which is sub-
sequently forced against the other (stationary) part, 
results in the dissipation of all the energy of the rotating 
part into the weld interface as the flywheel slows down, 
thus producing a solid-state weld of excellent quality. 
The welding process cleans and heats the weld interface 
and also forces out surface material containing impurities, 
leaving only fresh, but unmelted, metal to form the 
solid-state weld. After post-heating in a furnace, the 
weld line was not detectable in the recrystallized 
structure. 
A series of such welds was tested and found to be 
equal in strength to the parent metal in tensile and stress 
rupture tests at 760 0C and 9800C.
Notes: 
1. The utilization of friction welding developed in 
this study is believed to be applicable to other 
precipitation-hardened nickel-base alloys (such as 
IN-100 and other gamma prime-strengthened ma-
terials) which heretofore have been virtually un-
weldable. 
2. Friction welding requires rotation of one of the 
parts to be welded, but where applicable, it is an 
ideal process for high-volume production jobs. 
3. The following documentation may be obtained from: 
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.95) 
Reference: NASA TM-X-2411 (N72-11431), 
An Exploratory Study of Friction Welds in 
Udimet 700 and TD-Nickel Bar 
4. Technical questions may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Brookpark Road 
Cleveland, Ohio 44135 
Reference: B72-10288 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: T. J. Moore
Lewis Research Center
(LEW-1 1514) 
Category 08 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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Joining precipitation-hardened nickel-base alloys by friction welding

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