Welding Characteristics of Lap-Joint Hastelloy C-276 Sheet Metal Using Nd:YAG Laser

Hastelloy C-276 composed of Cr, Mo, and Ni is a versatile, corrosion-resistant alloy with numerous industrial applications including its use in nuclear reactors, general chemical plants, and as a superconducting base material. Of especial significance, it can be used as a thin-sheet type whereby lap-joint welding is occasionally necessary. The main welding problems for thin-sheet metals are deformation and burn-through from an excessive heat input. Laser welding can minimize these problems because it has a high energy density and low heat effect on the base material. In this study, the laser-welding characteristics of lap-joint Hastelloy C-276 sheet metal were determined. The criteria of the laser-welding variables were chosen using a heat-conduction analysis, and the optimal welding parameters were selected by experimenting with an Nd:YAG laser.