High-Resolution Thermal Imaging and Analysis of TIG Weld Pool Phase Transitions

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is a well-established joining process and offers the user flexibility to weld a large range of materials. Ultra-thin turbine tipping is an important application for TIG welding that is exceptionally challenging due to the wide range of variables needed to accurately control the process: slope times, arc control, travel speed, etc. We offer new insight into weld pool characteristics, utilizing both on- and off-line measurements of weld tracks. High-resolution thermal imaging yields spatially and temporally resolved weld pool phase transitions coupled with post-weld photographs, which gives a novel perspective into the thermal history of a weld. Our imaging system is filtered to measure a 10 nm window at 950 nm and comprises a commercial Sigma lens to produce a near-infrared (NIR) camera. The measured near-infrared radiance is calibrated for temperature over the range of from 800 to 1350 °C.