This article emphasizes the physical metallurgy of titanium and titanium alloys along with their microstructural response to fusion welding condition. The titanium alloys are classified into unalloyed or commercially pure titanium, alpha and near-alpha alloys, alpha-beta alloys, and metastable beta alloys. The article further discusses the weld microstructure for alpha-beta and metastable beta alloys and describes welding defects observed in titanium alloys. The influence of macro- and microstructural characteristics of titanium weldment on mechanical properties is also discussed. The article concludes with a discussion on the different welding processes used in the welding of titanium and titanium alloys.

This article focuses on the physical metallurgy and weldability of four families of titanium-base alloys, namely, near-alpha alloy, alpha-beta alloy, near-beta, or metastable-beta alloy, and titanium based intermetallics that include alpha-2, gamma, and orthorhombic systems.