Microstructure and mechanical properties of 2219 aluminum alloy VPTIG welds during cyclic thermal treatment

In this study,the effect of the cyclic thermal treatment(CTT) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the 2219 Al alloy welds fabricated using variable polarity tungsten inert gas(VPTIG) arc welding method were investigated by optical microscope(OM),transmission electron microscope(TEM),and low-temperature tensile tests,with emphasis on precipitation evolution and property variation in different areas of the joint.Measurement of the microhardness profile across the weld reveals that there are maximum and minimum hardness values in the heat-affected zone(HAZ) adjacent to the fusion boundary(FB).It is found that the maximum hardness value increases with the temperature cycles of the cyclic thermal treatment due to the formation of GuinierPreston(GP) zones,while the microhardness at other positions remains unchanged.Experimental results show that the CCT results in an increase in the yield strength,but a decrease in the ductility of the weld joint.