Investigation of laser-welded titanium and stainless steel specimens using digital radiography methods

Specimens of "titanium-titanium" and "titanium-12X18H10T steel" welded joints that were obtained using laser radiation were investigated. When "titanium-12X18H10T steel" welded joints were formed, a copper plate was used as the intermediate insert. The digital computer radiography method using phosphorous image plates was used to study specimens; images were read out from image plates using an HD-CR 35 laser reader produced by Durr NDT. Fuji SR and Kodak SO-170 image plates were used in the experiments. The relative contrast sensitivity of X-ray images of specimens that was obtained experimentally was 1-1.5% at exposures that were two to three times lower than for conventional radiography on an X-ray film. Defects with openings of > 0.1 mm were detected.