Properties and characteristics of laser beam welds of automobile aluminium alloys Martukanitz, R.P., Altshuller, B., Armao, F.G. and Pickering, E.R. Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096, U.S.A. 1996, 69–78 Conference: Developments in Aluminium Use for Vehicle Design, Detroit, MI, U.S.A. 26–29 Feb. 1996

The application of laser beam welding to aluminium alloys has some complications, mainly due to their high reflectivity, high thermal conductivity and low viscosity. In order to increase the laser absorption of aluminium alloys, some surface treatments has been applied in the literature, such as the application of dark coatings or sandblasting. However, these conventional superficial treatments have some drawbacks, such as the low weld penetration, the possibility to undergo magnesium evaporation and the impossibility to control and/or change the superficial properties of the treated samples. In the present contribution, laser texturization treatments have been performed with a fibber laser for the first time on aluminium alloys to increase their absorption and weld penetration. The texturised samples leaded to deeper bead welds than the reference sandblasted samples.

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Technological approaches by laser beam welding of aluminium alloys and influence of errors in manufacturing process

10.1117/12.611603 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Marcel S. Popa ◽

Calin Rus ◽

Dan Preja ◽

Raul Moldovan

Keyword(s):

Laser Beam ◽

Aluminium Alloys ◽

Manufacturing Process ◽

Laser Beam Welding

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Laser Beam and Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding of Aluminium Alloys

Metals ◽

10.3390/met11081150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1150

Author(s):

Ivan Bunaziv ◽

Odd M. Akselsen ◽

Xiaobo Ren ◽

Bård Nyhus ◽

Magnus Eriksson

Keyword(s):

Laser Beam ◽

Aluminium Alloys ◽

High Strength ◽

Strength Loss ◽

Physical Metallurgy ◽

Hybrid Welding ◽

Processing Efficiency ◽

Laser Systems ◽

Weld Work ◽

Welding Consumables

Aluminium alloys are widely used in many industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratios and resistance to corrosion. Due to their specific thermophysical properties and intricate physical metallurgy, these alloys are challenging to weld. Work-hardened alloys may experience strength loss in heat-affected zones (HAZ). The strength of precipitation-hardened alloys is severely damaged in both HAZ and weld metal due to coarsening or full dissolution. The high thermal conductivity and reflectivity of aluminium causes lower laser beam absorptivity with lower processing efficiency. Weld imperfections such as porosity, humping, and underfills are frequently formed due to the low melting point and density promoting high liquidity with low surface tension. Porosity is the most persistent imperfection and is detrimental for mechanical properties. In this work, extensive review was made on laser beam and laser-arc hybrid welding of aluminium alloys. Solidification cracking, evaporation of alloying elements, porosity and keyhole stability, and other challenges are studied in detail. The current development of laser welding of aluminium alloys is not so mature and new discoveries will be made in the future including the use of newly developed laser systems, welding consumables, welding methods, and approaches.

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