Heat treatment effect on the properties of welded joint of niobium alloys of the Nb-1Zr-C system

Thermal treatment of weld joints of the alloys Nb-1 Zr-(0.01-0.12)C at 800-900 deg C leads to decomposition of the solid solution of the weld metal which is accompanied with a decrease in plasticity and impact strength. The decomposition of the solid solution takes place even in a relatively pure alloy containing only 0.025% of intrusion impurities. Thermal treatment is reasonable only when carbon content in the alloys is no less than 0.1%. The decomposition of the solid solution in the weld metal of the alloy containing 0.12% of C takes place during thermal treatment at the expense of liberating niobium carbides Nb3C2 and Nb2C. When rearrangement takes place, i it is Nb2C that liberates mainly