PROCEEDINGS (MDPI), cilt.15, ss.1-16, 2022 (Scopus)
Ti6Al4V titanium alloys are widely used in a variety of scientific and industrial fields. Laser
beam welding is one of the most effective techniques for the joining of titanium plates. The main
objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the most important laser parameters on
welding performance of titanium alloy in two different physical environments such as air and water
(i.e., serum) media. Specifically, the laser beam welding of 2 mm thick Ti6Al4V samples was applied
using an Nd:YAG laser in open-air welding using argon as a shielding gas, and in wet welding using
a serum environment. The deepest penetration was achieved at −3 mm focal position with 11 J of
laser energy in both investigated media (i.e., air and serum). The maximum hardness (1130 HV) was
achieved for the focal position of −4 mm in serum medium while it was 795 HV for a focal position of
−5 mm in air medium. The minimum (1200 µm and 800 µm) and maximum (1960 µm and 1900 µm)
weld widths were observed for air and serum medium, respectively. After the welding process,
martensite, massif martensite, and transformed martensite were observed in the microstructure of
Ti6Al4V. To the best of our knowledge, the underwater wet welding of titanium alloy was carried out
and reported for the first time in this study