Effect of Heating on the Structure and Properties of a Solid-Phase Diffusion Bond Based on a Forced Fit in OT4-1 Alloy

The production of a solid-phase diffusion bond in OT4-1 alloy on the basis of a cold forced fit of components in a shaft–hole configuration is considered. The influence of the maximum stress–strain state in the cold forced fit and subsequent heat treatment (in autonomous vacuum) on the structural evolution and properties of the contact region is investigated. In cold plastic deformation of the alloy with the formation of a solid-phase diffusion bond, deformational relief (traces of grain-boundary slip) is observed in the microstructure of the contact region. In addition, decrease is noted in the area of the contact surfaces, and fewer bulk interactions are noted in the contact plane (grain distortion) and in the contact volume (regions of dislocation departure). The basic characteristics of the structural interface—the unit parameter of structural organization, the grain density, the mean grain-boundary density, and the development of the grain boundaries—exceed by factors of 10, 4, 1.8, and 1.5, respectively, those of the basic metal in the initial state. Heating in autonomous vacuum in the range of α → β phase transitions leads to stepwise structural changes in the basic metal and in the contact region of the solid-phase diffusion bond. Initially, a globular component appears in the microstructure. With further heating, this component reverts to the initial acicular structure (with some increase in microhardness). The formation of globular structure on heating plastically deformed metal is observed not only at temperatures corresponding to phase transition but also at higher temperatures; this has not previously been noted. With increase in temperature, the duration of this stage decreases. In addition, with less developed plastic deformation, the formation of globular structure is observed close to the polymorphic-transformation temperature T_pt, with shorter holding. For the basic metal (with little deformation), the globular structure disappears practically completely after heating for 10 min at 950°C. In the cold-deformed contact region of the solid-phase diffusion bond, the globular structure disappears on heating for 1 h at 950°C, for 40 min at 975°C, and for 20 min at 1000°C. At those temperatures the sealing of discontinuities is practically complete. In other words, the weld line disappears: the metal with continuous microstructure in the contact region does not differ from the basic metal, except for a slight enlargement of the microstructure. Quantitative assessment of the structural changes in terms of the basic characteristics of the structural interface permits determination of their mechanism and kinetics and also the dependence of the structure on the plastic strain and the heat treatment. On that basis, it is possible to identify conditions such that the discontinuities are eliminated, the boundaries disappear, and the properties of the solid-phase diffusion bond are no worse than those of the basic metal.