Abstract: A method of welding opposite end surfaces of two titanium alloy parts kept in alignment by a high energy-density welding process such as electron beam welding, laser beam welding or TIG arc welding, characterized by closely interposing an insert member of either practically pure titanium or Ti-Al binary alloy containing up to 3 Wt % of Al. Owing to thorough alloying of the inserted titanium with the constituents of the fused base metal, the weld metal in a weld joint obtained by this method is sufficiently high in both strength and toughness. By an optional postwelding heat treatment, the strength of the weld metal can further be enhanced.

Abstract: In regard to sheet metals of inferior formability as typified by titanium alloys, each end face of a blank is covered with a cover plate of a metal which surpasses the blank material in formability, and the covered blank is subjected to a usual shaping operation in which the steps of heating the blank and pressing the heated blank are cycled a plurality of times, so that the blank can be protected against contamination attributable to exposure of the hot blank to the atmosphere and hence saved from having a large margin in the thickness thereof. A lubricant layer is preferably formed between the blank and each cover plate for a further improvement on the formability.