Natural Aging Behavior of Double-Sided MIG Welded A7N01-T5 Aluminum Alloy

A heat treatable A7N01 (Al-Zn-Mg) aluminum alloy mainly used to fabricate high-speed train body structures was double-sided welded by MIG welding. The natural aging behavior of the joint was systematically studied by local and global mechanical property testing method. Based on TEM observation and EPMA analysis, the key factors that lead to different natural aging behavior among various regions of the joint were discussed. The global tensile strength of the joints increased obviously after natural aging. All the joint samples fractured in the weld zone, which demonstrated the weld zone was the weakest zone of the joints. And the strength of the global welds were depended on the microstructure and natural aging ability of the weld zone. Moreover, the increase of the tensile property of the three local regions in the weld zone after post natural aging decreased as Middle>lower>upper. The above phenomenon was also further confirmed by microhardness measurement. The age hardening behavior is greatly influenced by the concentration of strengthening precipitates forming element Zn. The Zn content in the weld zone determined by EPMA showed that element Zn was dispersed unevenly, which is attributed to the double V-groove design used in this work and Zn vaporization in the molten pool during welding. The Zn content in the middle layer metals is higher than that of the upper and lower layers, resulting in the remarkable hardening response for the middle layer of the weld zone during natural aging process. Additionally, the solution zone containing the same Zn content as the base metal and undergoing sufficient solid solution during welding was found to possess the high hardening ability after natural aging process.