Electron Beam Technologies for the Joining of High Alloy TRIP/TWIP Steels and Steel-Matrix Composites

Abstract

The use of new, high-alloy TRIP/TWIP steels and the corresponding composite materials requires innovative joining processes. Due to the high power density, the inert working atmosphere and the software-based control, the electron beam is predestined to study different joining strategies. This paper shows how the electron beam can be used as a tool to join high-alloy TRIP/TWIP materials with and without particle reinforcement. Microstructure-property relationships based on the microstructure and tensile tests are established and correlated to the material used. From this, a corresponding joining strategy is derived for each material, which is presented on the basis of various evaluation criteria.