Electron Beam Welding - Joining Dissimilar Materials

Joining Dissimilar Materials

Joining two metal components by welding, i.e. by melting part of both in the vicinity of the joint, in case of two materials with very different properties is often not applicable because of unsuitable properties of their alloy, due to creation of brittle inter-metallic compounds. This fact cannot be changed even by electron beam heating in vacuum, but nevertheless it makes possible to realize joints meeting high demands on mechanical compactness that are perfectly vacuum-tight. The principal rule of the method is not to melt both parts, but only that one with lower melting point, while the other remains in solid state. Advantage of the electron beam is in the possibility to localize the heating to a proper point and to control exactly the energy needed for the process. High vacuum atmosphere, no doubt, substantially contributes positively to the success. General rule of the construction of joints that should be made in the way mentioned above is that the part with the lower melting point should be directly accessible for the beam.