POST WELD HEAT TREATMENT OF NiTinol SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY USING LASER POWER SOURCE

摘要

In this work, attempt is made to carry out post weld heat treatment (PWHT) on NiTinol samples using laser power source. Initially, 1 mm thick NiTinol sheets were welded in butt joint position using Ytterbium: Yttrium aluminum garnet (Yb: YAG) laser power source. Laser welding was carried out in continuous mode, and the quality of the weld was assessed with respect to phase transformation temperatures, microhardness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance. To improve the quality of the welded samples, PWHT was done by passing a laser beam over the welded samples. It was found that PWHT had a significant effect on the phase transformation temperatures, microhardness, tensile strength and corrosion behavior of the welded NiTinol joints.