The study was intended to determine the effect of the input condition of the 17-4PH steel on the microstructure, mechanical properties and stress state of welded joints. The steel adopted for testing was in the solution condition at 1040°C, the aged condition at 550°C/4h and the overaged condition at 760°C/2 h + 620°C/4 h. Samples of 17-4PH steel, after heat treatment processed with different parameters, were electron beam welded (EBW). The microscopic observation (LM, SEM/EDS) showed that the microstructure of the weld consisted of martensite with a δ-ferrite lattice. In the heat-affected zone (HAZ), transformed martensite was found with evidence of niobium carbides. The results of hardness testing revealed the different nature of the hardness profile with the condition the material before the EB welding process. The hardness profile of the HAZ of the welded samples in the as-solution (ES2) and overaged (ES12) condition was varied (from about 340 HV to 450 HV). However, in the aged condition specimen of 17-4PH steel (ES22) showed a similar hardness level, at around 370 HV. The solution condition (ES2) had the highest strength properties R_m 1180.6 MPa with the lowest elongation A 7.6% of all samples tested. The aged welded specimen (ES22) retained high strength R_m 1103.4 MPa with a better relative elongation A 10.1%, whereas the overaged welded specimen (ES12) saw a reduction of strength R_m 950.4 MPa with an improvement in plastic properties A 18.8%. Obtained results showed a significant effect of the input steel condition on the obtained EB welded joints.

The present paper reports the results of theoretical and experimental studies of the process of die forging a bimetallic door handle intended for the production of a helicopter. The aim of the studies was to develop and implement a technology for die forging of a product with a specific mass similar to that of magnesium alloys which will have, however higher corrosion resistance. Numerical modelling and industrial tests were carried out based on the previously forging processes for an AZ31 alloy door handle. The material for the tests was a bimetallic bar produced by the explosive welding method, in which the core was of alloy AZ31, and the cladding layer was made of 1050A grade aluminium. The studies were conducted for two variants: Variant I – the forging process was mapped by numerical modelling and industrial tests for the die shape and parameters used in the forging of the AZ31 alloy door handle, Variant II – the tool shape was optimized and process parameters were selected so as to obtain a finished product characterized by a continuous Al layer.

From the theoretical studies and experimental tests carried out it has been found that the application of the Variant I does not assure that a finished door handle characterized by a continuous cladding layer will be produced. Within this study, a novel method of bimetallic door handle die forging (Variant II) has been developed, which limits the amount of the flash formed and assures the integrity of the cladding layer.