A lot of people think that welding titanium and titanium alloys is difficult, but it actually is not that complicated. With basic knowledge and some experience, one can surely do a decent titanium welding job such as the welding of titanium pipes.
The steps involved in welding titanium and titanium alloys are very similar to the steps taken when welding other types of metals and metallic alloys. The main difference lies on the focus levels required when doing the task. For example, when welding steel, about a quarter of the entire time is set aside for preparation and the rest is for the actual welding. In comparison, when welding titanium, the opposite is what happens: only a quarter of the time is devoted to the actual welding.
To begin the welding process, it is necessary to remove the impurities found on the titanium metal and titanium alloys. Cleanliness of the material plays an integral role in the stability and durability of the finished product. Cleaning titanium and titanium alloys can be done by doing a chemical cleaning method using certain solutions that can eliminate the microscopic particles and bits. Do not forget to use cotton or plastic gloves.
It is also important to prepare the welding site. Contamination is one of the most common concerns when welding titanium and titanium alloys, so the welding environment has to be free from dust, moisture, air drafts, grease, and other things that can cause contamination. So, welding should not be done in the same room as the grinding, machining, torch cutting, and painting.
Once the welding process starts, there is a chance for oxygen contamination to occur. So, it is advised to shield the weld from air the moment the temperature exceeds 800 F. Pure argon is commonly used as a shield gas in these cases, while some prefer an argon-helium mixture. Certain high-performance applications use cryogenic argon or liquid argon for better welds.
There are many other factors and variables in play during the whole titanium and titanium alloy welding process, and being able to control and manage them properly can successfully produce high standard titanium welds.