Characteristics of arc in variable polarity plasma arc welding of aluminum alloy

A double invert variable polarity plasma arc （VPPA） power source based on 16-bit MCU applied for aluminum alloys was developed. Mechanics, electrical and the produced heat mechanism of VPPAW arc were tested and analyzed. Results indicate that during the VPPA welding procedure of aluminum alloy, the arc of electrode negative （EN） has more effect on force, whereas the arc of electrode positive （ EP ） has more effect on heat. It should be noted that keeping the balance of the force and heat is the critical element of VPPAW. This power source had been successfully used to weld aluminum alloy with a 15 mm thickness in vertical welding. The conclusions are applicable to the variable polarity plasma arc welding technique used in the aerospace industry.

Formative mechanism of the undercut defect in horizontal variable polarity plasma arc welding

Abstract Horizontal welding is important for heavy or huge welding structures. Keyhole mode variable polarity plasma arc welding of aluminum alloy plates with medium thickness was carried out in horizontal position. The characteristic of welding defects was introduced. Preliminary experiments indicated that the undercut defect could not be eliminated easily. The relationship between welding parameters and the undercut defect showed that this deject could be lessened by using higher heat input. The fluid flow of weld pool was observed by a high speed camera. The fluid flow in weld pool was not symmetric and much of molten metal gathered in the lower part. The fluid flow velocity in the lower part was bigger than that in the upper part. To this end, the formative mechanism of the undercut defect was proposed. The flowability of the molten metal was an influential factor for the undercut defect. A preheating method was designed to verify the formative mechanism.

Mechanical properties of welded joints in vertical-up variable polarity plasma arc welding of 2219 aluminum alloy

The mechanical properties of the 2219 aluminum alloy welded joints by vertical-up variant polarity plasma arc welding (VPPAW) with keyhole were analyzed. The tensile strength of welded joints can reach 55% of that of base metal. The microstructure of weld joints was studied to explain the mechanical properties of the weld. The results show that the intensity of weld center is less than that of HAZ, and the intensity of weld center is the worst. So an advanced welding procedures is presented to reduce the heat input and increase the welding speed. The results in this procedures show that the tensile strength of welded joints reaches more than 60% of that of the parent metal, and the specific elongation does not descend.

Experimental Analysis on the Variable Polarity Plasma Arc Pressure

Arc pressure is one of the key factors for variable polarity plasma arc（VPPA） and welding pool formation. In this paper, VPPA pressure is measured by pressure transducer and U-tube barometer methods, and advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are compared. The effects of welding parameters, including with straight polarity（SP） current, reverse polarity（RP） current, time ratio of SP to RP, plasma gas flow rate, on VPPA pressure are investigated by using an orthogonal design. The experimental results indicate that the influencing degree of the welding parameters are in the order of plasma gas flow rate, SP current, time ratio of SP to RP, RP current. These results are important to researches of VPPA welding process and its mechanism. The physics behavior of VPPA is taken into account when the above influence mechanisms are analyzed. Firstly, according to the mechanism of the cooling compression to the arc, the compression to VPPA is enhanced with the increase of plasma gas flow, so the VPPA pressure would increase obviously. Secondly, although the temperature of VPPA is as a function of the welding current, the radius of VPPA is also enhanced. So the effects of SP current on VPPA pressure are inferior to the effects of plasma gas flow. Thirdly, VPPA pressure increases as a function of time ratio of SP to RP because the frequency of welding current influences the arc pressure to the some degree; Finally, the RP intervals are farther less than the SP intervals, so the influence to the pressure is minimal.

Cathodic cleaning in variable polarity plasma arc welding of aluminum alloys

Variable polarity plasma arc welding (VPPAW) is one of the most excellent processes used for welding aluminum alloys recently. It combines the advantages of variable polarity welding and plasma arc welding, and can achieve the most rational heat distribution and cathodic cleaning. With the VPPAW equipment developed by authors, the cathodic cleaning regularity that is one of the most important problems in VPPAW is investigated in this paper. The results will be helpful in realizing the real cleaning mechanism.

Study on the measureto improve the arcstabilization in smaller current welding for the variable polarity GTAW powersource

The variable polarity power source which incorporates a constant current power and a secondary inverter does not need special apparatus for stabilizing arc. The pulse for stabilizing arc is created by the circuit structure itself. The paper analyzes the principle of acquiring the pulse, provides the better method to improve the arc stabilization under smaller welding current. Test shows the arc is highly stable , and the process has no high frequency electromagnetic interference, which is suitable for automatic welding case.

Effects of pulse parameters on arc characteristics and weld penetration in hybrid pulse VP-GTAW of aluminum alloy

A novel ultrafast-convert hybrid pulse variable polarity gas tungsten arc welding process （HPVP-GTAW） is developed. High frequency pulse square-wave current which has a frequency of more than 20 kHz is exactly integrated in the positive polarity current duration. The effects of pulse current parameters on arc characteristics and weld penetration have been studied during the HPVP-GTAW process using Al-5. 8 Mg alloy plates. The arc characteristics studied by arc voltage and its profile, weld penetration noted by the ratio of weld depth to width have been found to be influenced significantly by the pulse current. The experimental results show that the HPVP-GTA W process can improve the arc profile predominantly and obtain the higher weld penetration with lower heat input. The observation may help in understanding the weld characteristics with respect to variation in the pulse current parameters which may be beneficial in using the novel HPVP-GTAW process to produce the better weld quality of aluminum alloy plates.

Approximate entropy analysis of arc stability in VPPA-GMAW hybrid welding

Variable polarity plasma arc-gas metal arc welding(VPPA-GMAW)integrates the advantages of VPPA and GMAW,and it is particularly applied to weld thick-plates aluminum alloys.High-speed camera and data acquisition system were used to analyze the arc shape and the welding process electrical signal.According to the analysis of arc swing amplitude and the approximate entropy of arc voltage signal denoised by wavelet threshold method,the influence of VPPA frequency on the arc stability was studied.The results show that the approximate entropy of GMAW arc voltage decreases with the increase of VPPA frequency in a certain range,and the stability of the hybrid arc is significantly improved.The spectral analysis shows that the arc stability is reduced due to the resonance effect between the VPPA and the GMAW arc when the VPPA frequency closes to the GMAW arc pulse frequency.The results are helpful to understand hybrid welding mechanism and the selection of welding process parameters.

Effect of variable polarity frequency on 2A14-T6 aluminum alloy welds using HPVP-GTAW process

Hybrid ultrahigh frequency pulse variable polarity gas tungsten arc welding （HPVP-GTAW） for 2A14-T6 high strength aluminum alloy was carried out and the effects of variable polarity frequency with constant pulse current frequency 40 kHz on weld bead geometry, microstrueture and microhardness were analyzed. Experimental results indicate that, compared to that of the conventional VP-GTAW process, the weld depth and ratio of weld depth to width are improved significantly by the variable polarity frequency in the HPVP-GTAW process, which the ratio of weld depth to width is improved by 36% at equal variable polarity frequency of 100 Hz, and improved by 55% with that of 200 Hz. Weld microstructure and microhardness distribution are changed obviously with the increase of variable polarity frequency. In the conventional VP-GTA W process, the grains in weld central zone are coarser, and the microhardness in weld central zone and fusion zone is about 95 HV and the lowest 82 HV, respectively. The microhardness is enhanced to a certain extent both in the weld central zone and fusion zone with the variation of variable polarity frequency in the HPVP-GTAW process due to the refinement and uniformity of weld microstructure. With the variable polarity frequency of 600 Hz, the microhardness in weld central zone and fusion zone reaches nearly 110 HV and 97 HV, respectively.

变极性等离子弧焊技术发展及其在航天制造领域应用现状

变极性等离子弧(VariablePolarityPlasmaArc,VPPA)焊是一种高效的铝合金和镁合金焊接方法,其主要优势在于等离子电弧具有高能量密度,可以在焊接时穿透熔池形成小孔,大幅度降低焊接变形和残余应力,提高焊接质量。了解熔池小孔行为、电弧物理特性和控制方法对于优化和提高焊接过程的稳定性至关重要。本文综述了VPPA焊接技术发展的最新情况,对VPPA焊接过程信息的检测研究为深刻认识焊接稳定性机理提供了有力保障,尤其是利用X射线成像系统观测熔融金属流动的研究,对提升VPPA穿孔熔池物理本质的认识做出了重要贡献。此外,针对不同位置VPPA焊接的研究增加了这一焊接工艺的灵活性,由VPPA焊接衍生的多种拓展工艺拓宽了该焊接方法的适用范围。VPPA穿孔焊接技术以其焊接变形小、焊后无缺陷、单面焊接双面一次成形等优势,成为航空航天领域铝合金中厚板材焊接制造的优选工艺。

铝合金VPPAW穿孔焊接匙孔闭合处的微观组织与力学性能

铝合金因其密度低,比强度高等特性,被广泛应用到航空航天、军事工业等领域.与其他焊接工艺相比,变极性等离子弧焊接在大型铝合金结构件加工方面具有突出优势.针对轻金属合金等离子弧焊接过程中匙孔难以自由闭合的问题,提出了气电分离时序脉冲等离子弧环焊缝收弧方法,对比研究了环焊缝收弧方法与手工钨极惰性气体保护焊(tungsten inert gas welding, TIG焊)填补法焊缝匙孔闭合处的微观组织与力学性能.结果表明,通过调节焊接起弧、收弧策略,实现了等离子弧匙孔自由闭合,焊缝收弧区成形良好,组织为均匀的等轴晶;抗拉强度为329.9 MPa,断后伸长率为16.3%,比TIG填补法的抗拉强度提高了22.91%,断后伸长率提高了55.24%.平均硬度值为78.9 HV0.2,热影响区硬度呈下降趋势,熔合线处硬度呈升高趋势,焊缝区硬度波动范围为75~81 HV0.2.

航天铝合金变极性等离子弧焊焊接接头的腐蚀与疲劳交替研究

随着可重复使用航天器理念的提出,可重用航天器多次空天往返和地面修复过程的腐蚀与疲劳交替问题不可忽视。本工作以5A06铝合金变极性等离子弧焊焊接接头为研究对象,对焊接接头进行腐蚀与疲劳交替试验,研究不同单位腐蚀时间对腐蚀与疲劳交替工况下疲劳寿命的影响。通过扫描电子显微镜和激光共聚焦显微镜对其断口进行表征,分析了腐蚀与疲劳交替后焊接接头的损伤特性。结果表明,随着单位腐蚀时间的延长,腐蚀与疲劳交替寿命呈现先下降后平稳的趋势。这主要归因于腐蚀会钝化疲劳裂纹尖端,形成新的点蚀坑,同时钝化疲劳过程中的侵入/挤出和微裂纹降低了表面应力的集中程度,使疲劳寿命相对延长,从而反映出寿命保持稳定的状态。其中,断裂位置均处于热影响区,这主要因为焊接热影响区耐腐蚀性差,易造成严重腐蚀损伤,较大的腐蚀坑引起严重的应力集中,从而加速裂纹萌生。

基于弧压反馈的叶片微束等离子焊接修复弧长跟踪控制

在损伤航空发动机涡轮叶片微束等离子增材修复过程中,多层堆焊后熔覆层面不平整导致凸起形貌产生,使得待修复表面与熔覆层上表面一致性差。提出一种基于弧压反馈的弧长跟踪控制方法,提高弧长稳定性,以解决上述问题。利用电弧电压信号间接表征电弧弧长,并提出变分模态分解与中位值平均滤波融合算法以去除噪声信号。在此基础上,设计一种变论域模糊PID与PID并联的控制器,调节焊枪的高度以实现弧压稳定,并进行仿真优化。最后搭建弧压采集与弧长控制平台,进行弧压信号去噪实验和表面凸起试片焊接实验。结果表明,此方法能显著提高弧长稳定性,且凸起表面与熔覆层上表面一致性好。

厚板铝合金变极性等离子弧焊电弧物理特性

为克服厚板铝合金穿孔焊接熔池极易失稳的难题,该研究从厚板焊接时电弧温度场出发,旨在探究厚板穿孔焊接熔池稳定性的机理。通过建立三维数值模型,研究了焊接母材厚度分别为5 mm和16 mm下变极性等离子电弧的温度场、流场和电流密度分布。结果表明,随着板厚的增加,变极性等离子电弧温度场分布发生改变,5 mm板厚电弧温度的衰减情况为线性,而16 mm厚板焊接的电弧温度衰减情况为二次型,使得温度变化更加复杂。变极性等离子弧焊接5 mm厚度铝合金时,整个小孔熔池的电流密度呈1.0×10^(6) A/m^(2)以上,但是在焊接16 mm厚板铝合金时,相同电流密度仅达到小孔深度的12 mm处。该研究有望对实现大厚度铝合金稳定焊接,拓宽变极性等离子弧焊接应用范围提供理论指导。

模态试验法测试焊接残余应力机理分析及模型参数估计

为避免残余应力对焊接结构的不利影响,保证其可靠性,需要探究残余应力分布.模态试验法因具有快速和无损的特点,逐渐应用于残余应力测试.为实现模态试验法测试焊接残余应力,通过振动理论分析了模态试验法的机理,获得了薄板焊件中残余应力与固有频率的关系;薄板焊件中的残余拉应力使固有频率减小,残余压应力使固有频率增大.在此基础上,将钻孔法和模态试验相结合,借助数据拟合的方法,估计了模态试验法测试6 mm 7A52铝合金试板VPPA-MIG(variable polarity plasma arc-metal inert gas)复合焊接残余应力的模型参数,确立了固有频率与残余应力的数值关系.依据确立的数值关系,测得了7A52铝合金试板在不同复合焊接参数下的纵向残余应力分布.结果表明,接头各区域的残余应力分布特征与钻孔法测得的结果基本一致,偏差在4%范围之内,估计出的模型参数能够保证模态试验法测试结果的可靠性,实现了焊接残余应力的快速和无损测试.

铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔焊过程控制

分析了铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊工艺特点,提出了通过对焊接参数的精确控制,实现变断面铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊工艺的方法,并将焊接电流、离子气流量和焊接速度确定为变断面铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊过程的被调节参数.保持穿孔熔池上"热"和"力"的动态平衡是调节焊接参数的根本依据,是实现变断面试件自动焊接的关键所在.采用单片机为核心的控制器对焊接参数进行实时调节,动态保持穿孔熔池上热和力平衡,实现了变断面铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊工艺.

维弧对铝合金变极性穿孔型等离子弧行为的影响

在铝合金变极性穿孔焊接的工艺中,维弧对变极性电弧的行为有着重要影响。在反极性时间内,主电流会通过维弧电源经过喷嘴形成自由电弧,产生双弧现象,增大喷嘴的烧损,影响反极性电流对工件的阴极清理作用,甚至会产生主、维弧相干涉的现象。通过改善变极性电流的波形可以达到在焊接过程中引燃主电弧后,关断维弧,彻底解决主、维弧相干涉的问题。

镁合金的活性电弧焊接

在不同的电流条件下,研究了9种常见氧化物、氟化物、氯化物活性剂在镁合金交流氩弧焊及变极性等离子焊弧中的行为。结果表明:活性剂TiO2、Cr2O3、AlF3、NiCl2、CdCl2、ZnCl2、MgCl2使镁合金交流氩弧焊焊缝熔深增加;MgF2、SiO2使镁合金交流氩弧焊焊缝熔深减小;TiO2、SiO2、Cr2O3、AlF3、NiCl2、CdCl2使镁合金变极性等离子弧焊焊缝熔深增加;MgF2、ZnCl2、MgCl2使镁合金变极性等离子弧焊焊缝熔深减小;活性剂对镁合金交流氩弧焊焊缝熔深增加的作用大于对镁合金变极性等离子弧焊的;电弧收缩是活性剂使得镁合金电弧焊焊缝熔深增加的原因之一;活性剂的加入使得焊缝的晶粒比未涂敷活性剂时粗大。

变极性等离子电弧稳定性及其控制

以变极性等离子电弧稳定性机理及其控制方法为研究对象,自行研制了80C196KC单片机为控制核心,主电路为双逆变型电路拓扑结构的VPPA—1型变极性等离子焊接电源。重点分析小电流过零再引燃机理及其在大规范焊接条件下变极性等离子弧焊接系统及其电弧的稳定性。分别提出了在小电流焊接时通过程序设定方法将变极性等离子电弧由正极性变反极性之前提高过零电流,而大规范焊接条件下则控制过零电流的新观点,对科学认识变极性等离子电弧特性及其焊接过程控制有重要的指导意义。

高频脉冲变极性焊接电源及电弧压力分析

采用变极性和高频脉冲电路叠加,设计了一套变极性和高频脉冲复合电流输出特性的焊接电源,将高频脉冲电弧特性引入变极性焊接过程。建立电弧压力数学模型,结合具体工艺试验,分析了高频脉冲电流对于变极性焊接电弧特性的改善。结果表明,在相等电流有效值的情况下,电弧压力随脉冲频率的提高而增加,高频脉冲电流频率达到5kHz附近时,弧柱区电弧压力较常规直流电弧提高2倍左右,电弧的挺度和能量密度都有所增加,为进一步研究高频脉冲变极性焊接方法在铝合金焊接中的应用提供了理论依据。