Investigation of impact behavior of TIG welded inconel 718 at aircraft engine operating temperatures

In this work, Charpy notch pendulum impact test was performed on non-welded and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welded Inconel 718 specimens at three different temperatures as 20°C, 500°C and 700°C. After the completion of tests, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) inspection and EDX (Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) analysis were performed for the microstructural examination of the specimens. Hardness measurements on the rupture zone of selected welded and non-welded specimens were also performed to make a better approach to interpretation of the impact behavior of material. Inspections indicated that hardness values in the heat affected zone of welded specimens dramatically decreased and they displayed higher ductility during fracture than non-welded samples due to partial softening of structure. The reason of further decrease in impact resistance of welded specimens was explained as the precipitation and coarsening of γ′′ and carbide phases in the interdendritic regions with increasing temperature.