Laser weldability of Pt and Ti alloys

Crack susceptibility of laser spot welds between Pt and Ti alloys was studied by characterizing the surface and the cross-sections of the welds produced at different pulse energies. Increase in laser pulse energy increased the dilution by the Ti alloy, giving rise to the evolution of microstructures with varying Ti contents across the entire fusion zone. Hardness results showed that regions with 66–75% Ti, i.e. consisting of primary Ti3Pt and/or Ti3Pt + TiPt eutectic, have a hardness higher than 700 Vickers hardness numbers (VHN), while regions with 42–66% Ti, i.e. consisting of primary TiPt, possessed hardness between 400 and 700 VHN. The extent of cracking increased with the increase in pulse energy and the cracked regions consisted of Ti contents between 50 and 75%. Brittle cracking in microstructures consisting of Ti3Pt and TiPt phases suggested that one or both of the constituent phases are susceptible to cracking. However, crack arrest in microstructures predominantly consisting of TiPt showed that Ti3Pt is the most susceptible phase to cracking in Pt–Ti alloy welds.