scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Combined effect of inoculation and magnetic arc oscillation on microstructure and tensile behaviour of type 2090 Al–Li alloy weld fusion zones

TL;DR: In this article, a type 2090 Al-Li alloy was gas tungsten arc welded with two different filler materials corresponding to types 2319 (Al 6.3Cu) and 4043 (Al 5.2Si).
Abstract: In the development of Al–Li alloys for aerospace structures, their behaviour during welding plays an important role. One way of improving weldability is to refine weld solidification structures, which can be achieved by a variety of means. In this work, a type 2090 Al–Li alloy was gas tungsten arc welded with two different filler materials corresponding to types 2319 (Al–6.3Cu) and 4043 (Al–5.2Si). Inoculation with titanium together with arc oscillation through an imposed alternating magnetic field was used to refine the weld fusion zone microstructures. Post-weld aging and tensile testing were employed to assess possible improvements in performance. It was found that the combined treatment of inoculation and magnetic oscillation resulted in fully equiaxed, fine grained structures and that this led to a noticeable increase in aging response and tensile properties, especially ductility.
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It has been identified that the joint made by brazing process having higher micro hardness value and LBW joints have better mechanical properties than GTAW joints and HTB joints.

6 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , 1460 Al-Li alloy plates (thickness 2 mm) were butt-welded by using conventional variable polarity TIG welding (VPTIG), low-frequency pulsed (2 Hz), and double-frequency (low-frequency 2 Hz + ultrasonic-frequency 20 kHz) pulsed variable-polarity TIG Welding (DPTIG).

5 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: In this paper, the weld porosity, susceptibility to cracking during welding, eqiaxed zone formation and associated fusion boundary cracking, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of welds are discussed.
Abstract: The application of aluminium-lithium alloys over a wide range of engineering technologies will require development of both effective methods for joining these materials and through understanding of their welding metallurgy. This chapter covers the pertinent literature regarding the weld metal porosity, susceptibility to cracking during welding, eqiaxed zone formation and associated fusion boundary cracking, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of welds. Microstructural modification is especially attractive for alloys with pronounced hot cracking susceptibility. Aluminum–lithium alloys are one such class of materials. Since the hot cracking tendency is known to be a function of weld metal composition, several crack resistant filler materials such as AA 2319, AA 4043 and AA 5356 are in common use. While primary approach to the problem is thus to modify weld metal chemistry, a secondary solution is to reduce the coarseness of the solidification structure. Of the various techniques available for modifying the structure, pulsed current, magnetic arc oscillation techniques of gas tungsten arc welding and inoculation using grain refining additions offers the greatest promise for practical applications. Improving weldability of these alloys through modification of fusion zone microstructure are covered in this chapter. Lastly, solid state welding processes such as friction and friction stir welding of Al-Li alloys are briefly discussed.

3 citations

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mechanisms of grain refinement have been examined for magnetically stirred gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds completely penetrating thin sheets of several aluminum alloys in this article.
Abstract: The mechanisms of grain refinement have been examined for magnetically stirred gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds completely penetrating thin sheets of several aluminum alloys. Grain refinement in unstirred welds may be brought about by adding sufficient titanium to produce heterogeneous nucleation by Ti-rich particles. In some alloys magnetic stirring is shown to extend the range of welding conditions which produce a partially equiaxed structure, and to widen the equiaxed fraction of partially equiaxed welds. This is attributed to magnetic stirring lowering the temperature gradient, allowing nucleation and growth of Al-rich grains further ahead of the columnar interface growing in from the fusion boundaries. In alloys with low Ti levels, magnetic stirring may cause refinement by sweeping grains from the partially molten zone ahead of the advancing solidification interface. This mechanism requires that the partially molten zone be sufficiently wide, and that the grain size in this zone remain small.

106 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the weld beads obtained under (i) continuous current (CC), (ii) pulsed current (PC), and (iii) arc oscillation (AO) conditions for their macro- and microstructural details were compared.
Abstract: Clad 2 mm thick sheets of Russian 1441 grade Al-Li alloys were welded using a gas tungsten arc welding process (GTAW). Comparisons were made between the weld beads obtained under (i) continuous current (CC), (ii) pulsed current (PC), and (iii) arc oscillation (AO) conditions for their macro- and microstructural details. In the case of CC GTAW, sound welds could be produced only under a narrow range of welding parameters. Centre line cracks, which occurred in CC GTAW welds under certain conditions, were halted by switching to PC or AO conditions while the welding was in progress. Microstructural refinement was significant in the case of PC and AO GTA welding.

105 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of arc oscillation on grain structure and solidification cracking in GTA welds of 5052 aluminum alloy was investigated using a four-pole magnetic arc oscillator and a modified fishbone crack test.
Abstract: The effect of arc oscillation on grain structure and solidification cracking in GTA welds of 5052 aluminum alloy was investigated using a four-pole magnetic arc oscillator and a modified fish-bone crack test. Two different mechanisms of crack reduction were identified: one in the low frequency range of arc oscillation and the other in the high frequency range. The former was the alteration of the orientation of columnar grains, while the latter was grain refining. Neither mechanism was operative in the intermediate frequency range and solidification cracking was severe, especially when the amplitude of arc oscillation was small. Alteration of grain orientation was obtained in welds made with transverse and circular arc oscillations, but not longitudinal arc oscillation. Grain refining, on the other hand, was achieved in welds made with all three types of arc oscillation patterns. The differences between the response of alloy 5052 to arc oscillation and that of alloy 2014 observed previously were discussed.

84 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
Abstract: Lithium-containing aluminium alloys have reduced density and increased elastic modulus compared with conventional aluminium alloys. Many such alloys are currently under development for aircraft applications, which usually involve mechanical fastening. Consequently, the weldability of lithium-containing aluminium alloys is currently receiving relatively little attention. The weldability of lithium-containing aluminium alloys is reviewed. The vast majority of the welding studies performed have been on the Soviet Al-5 wt% Mg-2 wt% Li alloy, 01420. Alloy 01420 and other lithium-containing aluminium alloys are indeed fusion weldable, and weldments having high joint efficiencies have been made.

46 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The weldability of aluminium-lithium alloys is reviewed with emphasis on alloys that are being commercialized: 2090, 8090 and Weldalite™ 049 as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The weldability of aluminium-lithium alloys is reviewed with emphasis on alloys that are being commercialized: 2090, 8090 and Weldalite™ 049. These alloys are weldable, although hotcracking susceptibility has been reported for 2090 and 8090 when welded with certain conventional filler alloys. Mechanical property data from weldments made by several techniques are emphasized. Weld-zone porosity problems, discussed at length in a 1985 review in this journal, have largely been controlled by proper weld pretreatment and gas shielding. Interest in the weldability of aluminium-lithium alloys has taken on increased significance because of their potential to reduce the weight of space launch systems, whose fabrication most often involves welding.

42 citations