Microstructure and Mechanical Performance of Cold Metal Transfer Spot Joints of AA6061-T6 to Galvanized DP590 Using Edge Plug Welding Mode

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyang Lei ◽  
Yongbing Li ◽  
Blair E. Carlson ◽  
Zhongqin Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Weld Nugget ◽  
Weld Strength ◽  
Welding Parameters ◽  
Feed Speed ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Lap Shear ◽  
Cold Metal

Dissimilar joining of aluminum to steel poses a challenge for arc welding. In this study, aluminum AA6061-T6 and hot dipped galvanized DP590 steel were joined using the Fronius cold metal transfer (CMT) welding process applying an edge plug welding mode (EPW). The correlation of the welding parameters, weld characteristics, and weld strength was systematically investigated. It was found that the EPW mode created a zinc-rich zone at the weld root along the Al–steel faying interface which transitioned to a continuous and compact intermetallic compounds (IMC) layer in the middle portion of the joint. The fracture propagation in lap-shear specimens was affected by this increase of IMC layer thickness. At a wire feed speed (wfs) of 5.6 m/min, the fracture initiated along the zinc-rich layer at the faying interface and then, upon meeting the compact IMC layer, propagated into the aluminum weld nugget. Propagation followed a path within the weld nugget along the boundary between columnar and equiaxed grains leading to weld nugget pullout upon fracture. For IMC layer peak thicknesses below 10 μm, the strength increased as a function of weld nugget diameter. However, larger heat inputs resulted in IMC layer thicknesses greater than 10 μm and interfacial fracture.

Cold Metal Transfer Spot Joining of AA6061-T6 to Galvanized DP590 Under Different Modes

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
HaiYang Lei ◽  
YongBing Li ◽  
Blair E. Carlson ◽  
ZhongQin Lin
Keyword(s):  
Heat Input ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Spot Joining ◽  
Predrilled Hole ◽  
Joint Quality ◽  
Cold Metal

In order to meet the upcoming regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, aluminum use in the automotive industry is increasing. However, this increase is now seen as part of a multimaterial strategy. Consequently, dissimilar material joints are a reality, which poses significant challenges to conventional fusion joining processes. To address this issue, cold metal transfer (CMT) spot welding process was developed in the current study to join aluminum alloy AA6061-T6 as the top sheet to hot dip galvanized (HDG) advanced high strength steel (AHSS) DP590 as the bottom sheet. Three different welding modes, i.e., direct welding (DW) mode, plug welding (PW) mode, and edge plug welding (EPW) mode were proposed and investigated. The DW mode, having no predrilled hole in the aluminum top sheet, required concentrated heat input to melt through the Al top sheet and resulted in a severe tearing fracture, shrinkage voids, and uneven intermetallic compounds (IMC) layer along the faying surface, leading to poor joint properties. Welding with the predrilled hole, PW mode, required significantly less heat input and led to greatly reduced, albeit uneven, IMC layer thickness. However, it was found that the EPW mode could homogenize the welding heat input into the hole and thus produce the most stable welding process and best joint quality. This led to joints having an excellent joint morphology characterized by the thinnest IMC layer and consequently, best mechanical performance among the three modes.

scholarly journals Influence of post weld heat treatment on tensile properties of cold metal transfer (CMT) arc welded AA6061-T6 aluminium alloy joints

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addanki Ramaswamy ◽  
Sudersanan Malarvizhi ◽  
Visvalingam Balasubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Tensile Properties ◽  
Gas Metal Arc Welding ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Post Weld Heat Treatment ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Cold Metal ◽  
Weld Heat

AbstractAluminium alloys of 6xxx series are widely used in the fabrication of light weight structures especially, where high strength to weight ratio and excellent weld-ability characteristics are desirable. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is the most predominantly used welding process in many industries due to the ease of automation. In this investigation, an attempt has been made to identify the best variant of GMAW process to overcome the problems like alloy segregation, precipitate dissolution and heat affected zone (HAZ) softening. Thin sheets of AA6061-T6 alloy were welded by cold metal transfer (CMT) and Pulsed CMT (PCMT). Among the two joints, the joint made by PCMT technique exhibited superior tensile properties due to the mechanical stirring action in the weld pool caused by forward and rearward movement of the wire along with the controllable diffusion rate at the interface caused by shorter solidification time. However, softening still exists in the welded joints. Further to increase the joint efficiency and to minimize HAZ softening, the joints were subjected to post weld heat treatment (PWHT). Approximately 10% improvement in the tensile properties had been observed in the PWHT joints due to the nucleation of strengthening precipitates in the weld metal and HAZ.

Studies on cold metal transfer welding of aluminium alloy 6061-T6 using ER 4043

2020 ◽  
Vol 234 (7) ◽  
pp. 924-937
Author(s):  
R Pramod ◽  
N Siva Shanmugam ◽  
CK Krishnadasan
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Aluminium Alloy ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Weld Zone ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Welding Parameter ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Cold Metal ◽  
Alloy 6061

Aluminium alloy 6061-T6 is utilized in aerospace industry for developing pressure vessel liner. Cold metal transfer is a promising welding process used in fabricating aluminium structures. The present work is focussed to achieve an optimum welding parameter for joining a 3.5-mm thick pressure vessel and to examine the mechanical properties and metallurgical nature of the weldment. The welded joint was evaluated as defect free using radiography test. The joint efficiency (66.61%) and measured microhardness of weldment (59.78 HV) exhibited promising results. The effect of grain coarsening in the heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld zone is attributed to the thermal gradients during welding. Dissipation of small amounts of strengthening elements Si and Mg during welding leads to reduction in mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction peaks revealed the presence of intermetallic Al–Si and Fe–Si in the weld zone. Fractography examination confirms the ductile type of failure in the fractured surface of the tensile samples.

Cold Metal Transfer Welding of AA6061 to AA7075: Mechanical Properties and Corrosion

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilay Çömez ◽  
Hülya Durmuş
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Corrosion Resistance ◽  
Heat Input ◽  
Dissimilar Materials ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Welding Parameters ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Cmt Welding ◽  
Mechanical Properties And Corrosion ◽  
Cold Metal

Cold metal transfer (CMT) welding provides many advantages for welding of dissimilar materials and thin sheets with its superior heat input control mechanism. In this study, AA6061 and AA7075 aluminum alloys were joined with CMT welding. The effect of welding parameters on hardness, tensile strength, and corrosion rate was investigated. The Tafel extrapolation method was carried out to determine the corrosion rates of AA6061 and AA7075 base metals and AA6061–AA7075 joints. Increasing heat input was found to be detrimental for both mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. The outcomes showed that CMT welding produces adequate joints of AA6061–AA7075 in terms of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, favorably with welding parameters that provide low heat input.

Weldability and Distortion of Mg AZ31-to-Galvanized Steel SPOT Plug Welding Joint by Cold Metal Transfer Method

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Cao ◽  
Q. W. Xu ◽  
H. X. Zhu ◽  
G. J. Mao ◽  
Q. Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mild Steel ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Base Metal ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Galvanized Steel ◽  
Feed Speed ◽  
Process Variables ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Wire Feed Speed ◽  
Cold Metal

In this study, cold metal transfer (CMT) plug welding of 1 mm thick Mg AZ31 to 1 mm thick hot-dipped galvanized mild steel (i.e., Q235) was studied. Welding tests were performed and the process variables optimized with Mg AZ61 wire and 100% argon shielding gas for a plug weld located in the center of the 25 mm overlap region. It was found that it is feasible to join 1 mm thick Mg AZ31 workpiece to 1 mm thick galvanized mild steel using CMT plug welding. The optimized process variables for CMT plug welding Mg AZ31-to-galvanized mild steel were a wire feed speed of 10.5 m/min, a predrilled hole with a diameter of 8 mm in Mg AZ31 workpiece and a welding time of 0.8 s. CMT plug welded Mg AZ31-to-galvanized mild steel joints were composed of the fusion zone between Mg AZ31 base metal and Mg weld metal, Mg weld metal (i.e., combined base metal, filler wire and Zn coating), and the brazing interface between magnesium weld metal and galvanized mild steel. The brazing interface mainly consisted of Al, Zn, Mg, Si intermetallic compounds and oxides (i.e., Fe3Al, Mg2Si, MgZn, and MgZn2), and magnesium solid solution. The static strength of CMT welded-brazed Mg AZ31-galvanized steel was determined primarily by the strength and area of the brazed interface and thickness of the intermetallic reaction layer.

Enhanced Performance of Steel-Aluminium Cast Nodes through Cold Metal Transfer

2013 ◽  
Vol 765 ◽  
pp. 736-740
Author(s):  
Stephan Ucsnik ◽  
Rudolf Gradinger ◽  
Almedin Becirovic ◽  
Andreas Waldhör
Keyword(s):  
Load Transfer ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Uniaxial Tensile ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Cast Aluminium ◽  
Pull Out ◽  
Macro Scale ◽  
Cold Metal ◽  
Scale Roughness

At present, enhancement of hybrid metal joints for tensile pull-out load through overlap surfaces with a macro-scale roughness is one scope of research. The macro-scale roughness is established through the modified arc-welding process, called “cold metal transfer pin” (CMT-pin), which enables repetitive manufacturing of arrays of metal reinforcements (pins) on parent metal surfaces.Hybrid metal joints between parent steel sleeves and cast aluminium alloy have been investigated. Joint surfaces of parent steel sleeves, which have cylindrical cross-sections, are modified by cylinder and ballhead pins. Cast metal joints were tested under uniaxial tensile loading. At the same time, their load transfer behaviour was determined. Results of tensile tests of hybrid metal joints with different kinds of pins, as well as with different amounts of pins are presented. Comparisons with reference joints without pins or with steel sleeves containing a harmonious triangular polygon cross-section ("P3G") and endings with an enlarged diameter are carried out.The results show an enhanced load transfer performance in the case of hybrid metal joints with pins, as well as enhanced performance measures compared to reference joints. It is also shown that the pin quantity has a major impact on the ultimate joint strength and the irreversible energy absorption density. The use of a certain quantity of pins leads to a change of the failure shape of the joints, which includes steel sleeve pull-out and pin shear to rupture of the cast aluminium.

scholarly journals Complex Behavior of Droplet Transfer and Spreading in Cold Metal Transfer

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Shuai Yang ◽  
Yanfeng Xing ◽  
Fuyong Yang ◽  
Juyong Cao
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Intelligent Manufacturing ◽  
Metal Transfer ◽  
Droplet Spreading ◽  
Cold Metal Transfer ◽  
Cmt Welding ◽  
Cold Metal

In intelligent manufacturing, an intelligent control method of welding process is an important process of intelligent welding manufacturing technology (IWMT). Metal transfer is a key factor to control the welding process. Metal transfer and droplet spreading are of vital importance for welding formation. A new theoretical model of cold metal transfer (CMT) in short-circuit transfer mode is proposed in this paper. In this model, the CMT welding process is regarded as a continuous process of arc heating, mass transfer, short-circuit, and spreading, and the relations between these processes are analyzed. The calculation equations used by the model can analyze the welding formation clearly and simplify the complex welding process into continuous physical behavior. The predicted welding width shows good agreement with the measurement results. The mechanism of increased welding width is also comprehensively analyzed. Results have a certain guiding effect on aluminum alloy welding process control.

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