Fracture behavior of double-pass TIG welded 2219-T8 aluminum alloy joints under transverse tensile test

2219-T8 aluminum alloys were butt welded by the double-pass tungsten inert gas （TIG） arc welding process. The transverse tensile test of the joint showed that the fracture mainly occurred in the partially melted zone （PMZ）. Effects of the PMZ on the fracture behavior were systematically studied. Continuous intergranular eutectics were observed in the PMZ close to the fusion line. Away from the fusion line, the intergranular eutectics in the PMZ became discontinuous. The fracture morphology and the microhardness distribution of the joint showed that the PMZ was gradient material with different mechanical properties, which strongly affected the fracture process. It was observed that the crack initiated in the PMZ near the front weld toe, and propagated in the PMZ away from the fusion line. Then, the crack tip was blunt when it propagated into the PMZ with higher plasticity. Finally, the rest part of the joint was shear fractured.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of laser welded wrought fine-grained ZK60 magnesium alloy

Fine-grained ZK60 magnesium alloy sheets of 2.0 mm in thickness were successfully joined by laser beam welding （LBW）. The effects of welding parameters including laser power and welding speed on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. A sound bead, with the ultimate tensile strength （UTS） of 300 MPa and elongation of 12.0%, up to 92.5% and 65% of those of the base metal, respectively, is obtained with the optimized welding parameters. No liquation cracking is visible in the partially melted zone （PMZ） owing to the inhibitory action of the fine dispersed precipitates and the fine-grained microstructure in the as-rolled magnesium alloy sheets. The fusion zone （FZ） is featured with the equiaxed dendritic grains of the average grain size about 8 μm, which are similar to those in the heat affected zone （HAZ）, and this contributes to the relatively high joint efficiency.

Liquation cracking in laser beam welded joint of ZK60 magnesium alloy

The ZK60 magnesium alloy plates were welded by laser beam welding (LBW) and the microstructures in the partially melted zone (PMZ) of welded joints were investigated. For the as-cast alloy, the eutectoid mixtures along grain boundaries (GBs) in the PMZ are liquefied during welding, and their re-solidified materials present hypoeutectic characters, which lead to more severe segregation of the Zn element along GBs, and thus enhance the cracking tendency of the PMZ. The main reasons for liquation cracking of PMZ are described as that the absence of liquid at the terminal stage of solidification leads to the occurrence of shrinkage cavities in PMZ, from which liquation cracking initiates, and propagates along the weakened GBs under the tensile stress originating from solidification shrinkage and thermal contraction. Lower heat input can reduce the cracking tendency, and the plastic processing such as rolling also contributes to the mitigation of PMZ liquation cracking by reducing the size of eutectoid phases and changing their distribution in the base metal.

Improving Weld Quality by Arc-Excited Ultrasonic Treatment

Ultrasonic treatment of the solidifying metal is a promising method for improving the quality of fusion welding. A method to combine the ultrasonic waves to the welding process using arc excited ultrasonic emission, called arc ultrasonic, was high frequency modulation of the arc plasma. The effects of arc ultrasonic on the weld including the fusion zone, the partially melted zone and the heat affected zone are described. The arc ultrasonic energy changes the weld microstructure. In the fusion zone, the primary dendrite arm spacing decreases significantly and more acicular ferrite appears. In the partially melted zone, a large amount of fine grains appear. In the heat affected zone, the width of the tempered zone increases with increasing modulation frequency and the microstructure is refined. The results show that arc ultrasonic is a new and effective way for improving weld quality.