Showing papers on "Heat-affected zone published in 2008"

Effects of Heat Input and Martensite on HAZ Softening in Laser Welding of Dual Phase Steels

Abstract: Laser welds were made in three dual-phase (DP) alloys with ultimate tensile strengths ranging from 450–980 MPa and varying microstructures to investigate effects of heat input on heat affected zone (HAZ) softening. To compare the total heat transferred into the HAZ of all the welds, heat input was normalized using the Rosenthal Equation. It was found that HAZ softening experienced in a DP steel was a function of both martensite content and heat input. Maximum HAZ softening was proportional to the martensite content, and the heat input controlled the completion of softening. Material softening was normalized by martensite content, which showed that the contribution of martensite to material hardness from the three materials is the same; however the materials had different transformation kinetics.

A thermal model of friction stir welding in aluminum alloys

Abstract: A thermal model of friction stir welding was developed that utilizes a new slip factor based on the energy per unit length of weld. The slip factor is derived from an empirical, linear relationship observed between the ratio of the maximum welding temperature to the solidus temperature and the welding energy. The thermal model successfully predicts the maximum welding temperature over a wide range of energy levels but under predicts the temperature for low energy levels for which heat from plastic deformation dominates. The thermal model supports the hypothesis that the relationship between the temperature ratio and energy level is characteristic of aluminum alloys that share similar thermal diffusivities. The thermal model can be used to generate characteristic temperature curves from which the maximum welding temperature in an alloy may be estimated if the thermal diffusivity, welding parameters and tool geometry are known.

Influence of Tool Dimension and Welding Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction-Stir-Welded 6061-T651 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract: Six-millimeter-thick 6061Al-T651 plates were friction stir welded with varied welding parameters and tool dimensions. The low hardness zones (LHZs), determined by constructing the hardness distribution maps around the heat-affected zones, changed the location and inclination with the welding conditions, but the hardness values of the LHZs were mainly dependent on the welding speed. The thermal cycles experienced by the LHZs had approximately the same peak temperature of 360 °C to 370 °C with varied durations that were governed by the welding speed. The microstructure of the LHZs was characterized by a low density of β′ precipitates, which tended to reduce with increasing the welding speed. The fracture of the welds occurred along the LHZs, and the tensile strength of the welds increased with increasing the welding speed and was independent of the tool dimension and the rotation rate. A heat source zone-isothermal dissolution layer model was proposed to explain the observed effects.

Microstructure, local and global mechanical properties of friction stir welds in aluminium alloy 6005A-T6

Abstract: The effect of the welding speed on the microstructure, local and overall mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints has been investigated in the aluminium alloy 6005A-T6. The fine hardening precipitation within the heat-affected zone has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Post-welding heat treatments have been applied to obtain indications on the level of solid solution supersaturation in the as welded state. The local mechanical behaviour was determined using thin specimens extracted from various regions of the weld. The overall properties were measured on samples cut perpendicular to the weld. Specific attention was devoted to the relationship between the local microstructure and local hardening properties in the weakest region, which govern the overall strength and ductility of the welds.

Experimental study on temperature distributions within the workpiece during friction stir welding of aluminum alloys

Abstract: This study aims to experimentally explore the thermal histories and temperature distributions in a workpiece during a friction stir welding (FSW) process involving the butt joining of aluminum 6061-T6. Different types of thermocouple layout are devised to measure the temperature histories during FSW at different locations on the workpiece in the welding direction. Successful welding processes are achieved by appropriately controlling the maximum temperatures during the welding process. Regression analyses by the least squares method are used to predict the temperatures at the joint line. A second-order polynomial curve is found to best fit the experimental temperature values in the width direction of the workpiece. The Vickers hardness test is conducted on the welds to evaluate the hardness distribution in the thermal-mechanical affected zone, the heat affected zone, and the base metal zone. Tensile tests are also carried out, and the tensile strength of the welded product is compared with that of the base metal.

Some investigations on microstructure and mechanical properties of submerged arc welded HSLA steel joints

Abstract: This paper investigates the influence of the submerged arc welding (SAW) process parameters (welding current and welding speed) on the microstructure, hardness, and toughness of HSLA steel weld joints. Attempts have also been made to analyze the results on the basis of the heat input. The SAW process was used for the welding of 16 mm thick HSLA steel plates. The weld joints were prepared using comparatively high heat input (3.0 to 6.3 KJ/mm) by varying welding current (500–700 A) and welding speed (200–300 mm/min). Results showed that the increase in heat input coarsens the grain structure both in the weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ). The hardness has been found to vary from the weld centre line to base metal and peak hardness was found in the HAZ. The hardness of the weld metal was largely uniform. The hardness reduced with the increase in welding current and reduction in welding speed (increasing heat input) while the toughness showed mixed trend. The increase in welding current from 500 A to 600 A at a given welding speed (200 mm/min or 300 mm/min) increased toughness and further increase in welding current up to 700 A lowered the toughness. Scanning electron microscopy of the fractured surfaces of impact test specimen was carried out to study the fracture modes. Electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) was carried out to investigate the variation in wt.% of different elements in the weld metal and HAZ.

Laser welding of NiTi wires

Abstract: The special properties of nickel–titanium shape memory alloys are currently used in micro-engineering and medical technology. In order to integrate NiTi components into existing parts and modules, they often need to be joined to other materials. For this reason, the present contribution deals with the laser welding of thin pseudoelastic NiTi wires (100 μm) with an Nd:YAG laser. Based on extensive parameter studies, faultless joints were produced. This study deals with the structural changes occurring in the fusion and heat-affected zones, the performance of the joints in static tensile tests and their functional fatigue. It can be shown that NiTi/NiTi joints reach about 75% of the ultimate tensile strength of pure NiTi wires. For welding NiTi to steel, no interlayer was used. The dissimilar NiTi/steel joints provide a bonding strength in the fusion and heat-affected zones higher than the plateau stress level. NiTi/steel joints of thin wires, as a new aspect, enable the possibility to benefit from the pseudoelastic properties of the NiTi component.

Development of an advanced A-TIG (AA-TIG) welding method by control of Marangoni convection

Abstract: A new type of tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding has been developed, in which an ultra-deep penetration is obtained. In order to control the Marangoni convection induced by the surface tension gradient on the molten pool, He gas containing a small amount of oxidizing gas was used. The effect of the concentration Of O-2 and CO2 in the shielding gas on the weld shape was studied for the bead-on-plate TIG welding of SUS304 stainless under He-O-2 and He-CO2 mixed shielding gases. Because oxygen is a surface active element for stainless steel, the addition of oxygen to the molten pool can control the Marangoni convection from the outward to inward direction on the liquid pool surface. When the oxygen content in the liquid pool is over a critical value, around 70ppm, the weld shape suddenly changes from a wide shallow shape to a deep narrow shape due to the change in the direction of the Marangoni convection. Also, for He-based shielding gas, a high welding current will strengthen both the inward Marangoni convection on the pool surface and the inward electromagnetic convection in the liquid pool. Accordingly, at a welding speed of 0.75 mm/s, the welding current of 160 A and the electrode gap of I mm under the He-0.4%O-2 shielding, the depth/width ratio reaches 1.8, which is much larger for Ar-O-2 shielding gas (0.7). The effects of the welding parameters, such as welding speed and welding current were also systematically investigated. In addition. a double shielding gas method has been developed to prevent any consumption of the tungsten electrode. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the Performance of Stainless Steel A-TIG Welds

Abstract: The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effect of oxide fluxes on weld morphology, arc voltage, mechanical properties, angular distortion and hot cracking susceptibility obtained with TIG welding, which applied to the welding of 5 mm thick austenitic stainless steel plates. A novel variant of the autogenous TIG welding process, oxide powders (Al2O3, Cr2O3, TiO2, SiO2 and CaO) was applied on a type 304 stainless steel through a thin layer of the flux to produce a bead on plate welds. The experimental results indicated that the increase in the penetration is significant with the use of Cr2O3, TiO2, and SiO2. A-TIG welding can increase the weld depth to bead-width ratio, and tends to reduce the angular distortion of the weldment. It was also found that A-TIG welding can increase the retained delta-ferrite content of stainless steel 304 welds and, in consequence, the hot-cracking susceptibility of as-welded is reduced. Physically constricting the plasma column and reducing the anode spot are the possible mechanism for the effect of certain flux on A-TIG penetration.

Precipitation microstructures in an AA6056 aluminium alloy after friction stir welding: Characterisation and modelling

Abstract: The effect of friction stir welding on the microstructure and local properties of the AA6056 alloy has been investigated for both T4 and T78 initial states. A particular attention was devoted to the relationship between the fine hardening precipitation within the affected zones and local hardness. In the heat-affected zones of the T4 weld an extensive heterogeneous precipitation is occurring on dislocations and dispersoids whereas the heat-affected zones of the T78 weld are characterised by the coarsening and dissolution of initial hardening precipitates and by heterogeneous precipitation on dispersoids. Modelling tools dedicated to the weld behaviour understanding have been developed: a physically based model for precipitation and hardening has been coupled to a model for thermal cycles. This model describes correctly both the microstructural evolution through the FSW joint and its consequence on hardness variations.

Effect of microstructure on properties of friction stir welded Inconel Alloy 600

Abstract: Friction stir welding (FSW) has been widely used to metals with moderate melting temperatures, primarily Al alloys. Recently, tool materials that withstand high stresses and temperatures necessary for FSW of materials with high melting temperatures have been developed. In the present study, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tool was used for partially penetrated FSW of Inconel Alloy 600, and a defect-free weld was successfully produced. Microstructural characteristics, mechanical and corrosion properties in the weld were examined. The weld had better mechanical properties than the base material due to formation of fine grain structure in the stir zone, but exhibited slightly the lower corrosion resistance in a part of the stir zone and heat-affected zone (HAZ).

Microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy AZ31B laser beam welds

Abstract: Microstructure and properties of a Mg AZ31B laser beam weld without filler are studied using electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and mechanical tests. The microstructure of the weld is characterized by a narrow heat affected zone, columnar grains and precipitate coarsening in the fusion zone. Texture in the fusion zone is significantly different from the texture of the base material. The residual stress distribution observed is similar at the top and the bottom of the weld, maximum tensile residual stress values are observed in the fusion zone. Tensile tests reveal differences in the mechanical behavior of the fusion zone and the parent material, which can be related to the differences of texture and the resulting deformation mechanisms.

A fully coupled thermo-mechanical model of friction stir welding

Abstract: This paper presents a new developed fully coupled thermo-mechanical model of the friction stir welding process. Results indicate that the rotation of the shoulder can accelerate the material flow behavior near the top surface. The material deformation and the temperature field can have relations with the microstructural evolution. The texture of the appearance of the friction stir welds can correlate well with the equivalent plastic strain distributions on the top surface. The temperature field in the friction stir welding process is approximately symmetric to the welding line. The material flows in different thicknesses are different. The shoulder can have a significant effect on material behaviors on the top surface, but this effect is greatly weakened when the material gets closer to the bottom surface of the welding plate.

Effect of pulsed current welding on mechanical properties of high strength aluminum alloy

Abstract: High strength aluminum alloys (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys) have gathered wide acceptance in the fabrication of lightweight structures requiring high strength-to-weight ratio, such as transportable bridge girders, military vehicles, road tankers and railway transport systems. The preferred welding processes of high strength aluminum alloy are frequently the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process and the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process due to their comparatively easy applicability and better economy. Weld fusion zones typically exhibit coarse columnar grains because of the prevailing thermal conditions during weld metal solidification. This often results in inferior weld mechanical properties and poor resistance to hot cracking. In this investigation, an attempt has been made to refine the fusion zone grains by applying a pulsed current welding technique. Rolled plates of 6 mm thickness were used as the base material for preparing single pass welded joints. A single ‘V’ butt joint configuration was prepared for joining the plates. The filler metal used for joining the plates was AA 5356 (Al-5Mg (wt%)) grade aluminum alloy. Four different welding techniques were used to fabricate the joints: (1) continuous current GTAW (CCGTAW), (2) pulsed current GTAW (PCGTAW), (3) continuous current GMAW (CCGMAW) and (4) pulsed current GMAW (PCGMAW). Argon (99.99% pure) was used as the shielding gas. Tensile properties of the welded joints were evaluated by conducting tensile tests using a 100 kN electro-mechanical controlled universal testing machine. Current pulsing leads to relatively finer and more equi-axed grain structure in GTA and GMA welds. In contrast, conventional continuous current welding resulted in predominantly columnar grain structures. Grain refinement is accompanied by an increase in tensile strength and tensile ductility.

Influence of Tool Geometry in Friction Stir Welding

Abstract: In this article we highlight the results of a recent study undertaken to understand the influence of tool geometry on friction stir welding (FSW) of an aluminum alloy with specific reference to microstructural development, defect formation, and mechanical response. The welding trials were made on 4.4 mm thick sheets using tools made of die steel and having different diameters of the shoulder and the pin, and the profile of the pin. Throughout the welding operation, the rotational speed, traverse speed, and tool axial tilt were held constant at 1400 rpm, 80 mm/minute, and 0 degrees, respectively. For a shoulder diameter of 20 mm and a pin diameter of 6 mm, the severity of defects in the weld was found to be the least and the resultant tensile strength of the weld was high. For the welds that were made using a tool having a shoulder diameter of 10 mm and a pin diameter of 3 mm the tensile strength of the weld was the least since the degree of defects observed were higher.

Effect of microstructural evolution on mechanical properties of friction stir welded ZK60 alloy

Abstract: Six millimeters thick extruded ZK60 plate was successfully friction stir welded at a rotation rate of 800 rpm and a traverse speed of 100mn/min. Friction stir welding (FSW) resulted in breakup and dissolution of MgZn(2) phase and remarkable grain refinement in the nugget zone. Relatively weak basal texture on the transverse plane of the nugget zone was not the dominant factor for determining the mechanical properties of the ZK60 weld. As-welded joints failed on the nugget zone with ultimate tensile strength (UTS) reaching 87% of the parent material. After aging, the precipitation of the fine MgZn2 particles increased the mechanical properties of the weld significantly with the UTS reaching 94% of the parent material and the fracture occurring in the heat-affected zone. The fracture locations under both as-welded and aged conditions were consistent with the lowest hardness distribution of the welds. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.