Evolution of NbC during laser welding and its impacts on the performance of molybdenum alloy joint

Influences of addition of niobium carbide (NbC) in the fusion zone (FZ) on room-temperature and high-temperature mechanical properties of laser-welded joints of molybdenum (Mo) alloys were studied. Results show that after adding NbC powder, the average Vickers microhardness in the upper part of the FZ increases from 183.0 HV to 712.3 HV; the room-temperature tensile strength grows from 33.9 MPa to 323.1 MPa, reaching 45.4 % that of base metal (BM). In addition, the fracture mode of joints turns from intergranular fractures into transgranular fracture; at 1100 °C, the high-temperature tensile strength of joints added with NbC is 141.6 MPa, which is 65.9 % that of BM. Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) results show that after adding NbC powder, the average grain size in the FZ diminishes from 40.3 μm to 32.9 μm, where the number of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) increases; the FZ not only contains NbC phase but also a large quantity of Nb₂O₅ and Mo₂C phases dispersed on grain boundaries (GBs), and the number of MoO₂ phase on GBs decreases apparently. Therefore, physical mechanisms underlying significant improvement of room-temperature and high-temperature tensile strengths of laser-welded joints of Mo alloys added with NbC in the FZ mainly include fine-grain strengthening, GB purification, and GB strengthening.