The water as a welding environment may generate serious technological and metallurgical problems but in certain cases, the physicochemical properties of water can be used effectively, e.g., to impart the specific properties of welded materials. The purpose of the work was verification of effectiveness of the water cooling of aluminium alloy AA5754 for various sets of technological parameters of underwater friction stir welding (UFSW). For the joints performed with the range of parameters of rotational speed: 475–925 rpm and welding speed: 47.5–95 mm/min, the following examinations were carried out: visual tests, radiographic tests, static tensile test, fractography (SEM, scanning electron microscope) analysis, and surface texture analysis performed with 3D measurement system. All of the joints were characterized with some amount of flash. Besides, depending on the values of selected parameters, the defects arising from inadequate stirring were found—tunnel defects and melting. The best appearance of the joint was obtained for the set of parameters of 925 rpm and 47.5 mm/min. The samples of the same joint were found to be of the highest mechanical properties—ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 194 MPa and elongation (A) of 9.2%. The results were confirmed by the fractography analysis, which in this case indicated the ductile fracture mode. Dynamic plastic behaviour strongly depends on the process parameter values, which was reflected in the results of surface texture analysis. The parameter selection resulted in significant changes in the roughness results (from 8 to 14.2 µm depending on the sample) as well as the flow ring distance of the weld (from 20 to 50 µm depending on the sample).

The creep-resistant casting nickel alloys (e.g., Inconel 713C) belong to the group of difficult-to-weld materials that are using for precise element production; e.g., aircraft engines. In precision castings composed of these alloys, some surface defects can be observed, especially in the form of surface discontinuities. These defects disqualify the castings for use. In this paper, the results of technological tests of remelting and surfacing by the Tungsten Inert Gas method (TIG) in an argon shield and TecLine 8910 gas mixture are presented for stationary parts of aircraft engines cast from Inconel 713C alloy. Based on the results of metallographic studies, it was found that the main problem during remelting and pad welding of Inconel 713C castings was the appearance of hot microcracks. This type of defect was initiated in the partial melting zone, and propagated to the heat affected zone (HAZ) subsequently. The transvarestraint test was performed to determine the hot-cracking criteria. The results of these tests indicated that under the conditions of variable deformation during the remelting and pad welding process, the high-temperature brittleness range (HTBR) was equal 246 °C, and it was between 1053 °C and 1299 °C. In this range, the Inconel 713C was prone to hot cracking. The maximum deformation for which the material was resistant to hot cracking was equal to 0.3%. The critical strain speed (CSS) of 1.71 1/s, and the critical strain rate for temperature drop (CST), which in this case was 0.0055 1/°C, should be used as a criteria for assessing the tendency for hot cracking of the Inconel 713C alloy in the HTBR. The developed technological guidelines and hot-cracking criteria can be used to repair Inconel 713C precision castings or modify their surfaces using welding processes.

Nickel-based alloys are widely used in industries such as the aircraft industry, chemicals, power generation, and others. Their stable mechanical properties in combination with high resistance to aggressive environments at high temperatures make these materials suitable for the production of components of devices and machines intended for operation in extremely difficult conditions, e.g. in aircraft engines. This paper presents the results of thermal and mechanical tests performed on precision castings made of the Inconel 713C alloy and intended for use in the production of low pressure turbine blades. The tests enabled the determination of the nil strength temperature (NST), the nil ductility temperature (NDT), and the ductility recovery temperature (DRT) of the material tested. Based on the values obtained, the high temperature brittleness range (HTBR) and the hot cracking resistance index were determined. Metallographic examinations were conducted in order to describe the cracking mechanisms. It was found that the main cracking mechanism was the partial melting of grains and subsequently the rupture of a thin liquid film along crystal boundaries as a result of deformation during crystallisation. Another cracking mechanism identified was the DDC (Ductility Dip Cracking) mechanism. The results obtained provide a basis for improving precision casting processes for aircraft components and constitute guidelines for designers, engineers, and casting technologists.

Inconel 713C precision castings are used as aircraft engine components exposed to high temperatures and the aggressive exhaust gas environment. Industrial experience has shown that precision-cast components of such complexity contain casting defects like microshrinkage, porosity, and cracks. This necessitates the development of repair technologies for castings of this type. This paper presents the results of metallographic examinations of melted areas and clad welds on the Inconel 713C nickel-based superalloy, made by TIG, plasma arc, and laser. The cladding process was carried out on model test plates in order to determine the technological and material-related problems connected with the weldability of Inconel 713C. The studies included analyses of the macro- and microstructure of the clad welds, the base materials, and the heat-affected zones. The results of the structural analyses of the clad welds indicate that Inconel 713C should be classified as a low-weldability material. In the clad welds made by laser, cracks were identified mainly in the heat-affected zone and at the melted zone interface, crystals were formed on partially-melted grains. Cracks of this type were not identified in the clad welds made using the plasma-arc method. It has been concluded that due to the possibility of manual cladding and the absence of welding imperfections, the technology having the greatest potential for application is plasma-arc cladding.

The main motivation behind the presented research was the regeneration of the damaged surface of composite materials. The testing of melting and pad welding of the composite surface by Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) with alternating current (AC) were carried out. The material of investigation was an AlSi12/SiCp + GCsf hybrid composite made by a centrifugal casting process. The composite was reinforced with 5 wt.% of silicon carbide particles and 5 wt.% of glassy carbon spheres. The composites were investigated in tribological tests. It was found that there was a possibility for modification or regeneration of the surface with pad welding technology. Recommended for the repairs was the pad welding method with filler metal with a chemical composition similar to the aluminum matrix composite (ISO 18273 S Al4047A (AlSi12 [A])). The surface of the pad welding was characterized by the correct structure with visible SiCp. No gases or pores were observed in the pad welding; this was due to a better homogeneity of the silicon carbide (SiCp) distribution in the composite and better filling spaces between liquid metal particles in comparison to the base material. Based on the tribological tests, it was found that the lowest wear was observed for the composite surface after pad welding. This was related to the small number of reinforcing particles and their agreeable bonding with the matrix. The plastic deformation of the Al matrix and scratching by worn particles were a dominant wear mechanism of the surface.

Nowadays, industrial adhesives are replacing conventional bonding methods in many industries, including the automotive, aviation, and power industries, among others. The continuous development of joining technology has promoted adhesive bonding as one of the basic methods of joining metal materials. This article presents the influence of surface preparation of magnesium alloys on the strength properties of a single-lap adhesive joint using a one-component epoxy adhesive. The samples were subjected to shear strength tests and metallographic observations. The lowest properties of the adhesive joint were obtained on samples degreased with isopropyl alcohol. The lack of surface treatment before joining led to destruction by adhesive and mixed mechanisms. Higher properties were obtained for samples ground with sandpaper. The depressions created as a result of grinding increased the contact area of the adhesive with the magnesium alloys. The highest properties were noticed for samples after sandblasting. This proved that the development of the surface layer and the formation of larger grooves increased both the shear strength and the resistance of the adhesive bonding to fracture toughness. It was found that the method of surface preparation had a significant influence on the resulting failure mechanism, and the adhesive bonding of the casting of magnesium alloy QE22 can be used successfully.