X-ray welding of metal-matrix composites

We present the first results of use of the high power x-rays from an insertion device beamline at the Advanced Photon Source for welding. X-rays with energies between 3 and 200 keV and power densities greater than 10 000 W/cm(2) can penetrate deeply into most materials and thus can be used as volumetric heating sources. In this article we show results of bead-on-plate welds of a 3.3-mm-thick Al/Al2O3 metal-matrix composite and discuss results obtained for other materials. The potential of x-rays for welding is also discussed. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.