Advances in welding of tantalum alloy

Tantalum (Ta) alloys are well-known for their excellent heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties, making them applicable across diverse sectors such as aerospace, pressure vessels, microelectronics, chemicals, and medical devices. With the expansion of Ta alloy applications, the demand for advanced welding technologies of Ta alloy grows with each passing day. According to the characteristics of Ta alloys, the weldability of Ta alloys was analyzed, and the latest advancements in Ta alloy welding technologies were summarized. Ta alloys can be welded both to similar alloys and to dissimilar metals, such as Ta-Ta, Ta-steel, Ta-Cu, Ta-Ti, Ta-Al, Ta-Au, Ta-W, Ta-Mo, and Ta-Ni. The selection of appropriate welding methods, optimization of process parameters, and introduction of intermediate layer materials can significantly reduce residual stresses of welded joints, minimize the formation of brittle intermetallic compounds, and thereby enhance the mechanical properties and fatigue resistance of the joints. In addition, Ta can act as an intermediate layer in interfacial reactions to inhibit the formation of brittle compounds and improve the joint quality. The key challenges and potential solutions in the welding of Ta alloys were discussed, which can provide insights into future trends. Emerging technologies such as intelligent monitoring, deep learning algorithms, finite element simulation, and composite welding offer significant potential for advancing the welding technologies of Ta alloys. This review aims to offer valuable insights for applications within the field of Ta alloy welding.