Improved Recrystallization Resistance and Welding Properties of Cold-Rolled Al-Mg Alloy Sheets by Microalloying with Sc and Zr

The effects of Sc and Zr element on the recrystallization behavior and microstructure evolution of Al-Mg alloy had been researched in this paper, and meanwhile, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the friction stir welding joints were also analyzed. The results show that the recrystallization and grain growth behavior of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy can be inhibited effectively by microalloying with Sc and Zr. Compared with Al-Mg and Al-Mg-Zr alloys, the recrystallization start temperature and finish temperature of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy increase significantly, and the strength of alloy sheet which subjected to stabilizing annealing is increased by more than 50MPa. Moreover, the recrystallization softening effect of the welded joints microstructure, which caused by the welding temperature field and welding heat input, can be weaken by microalloying with Sc and Zr, the width of recrystallization zone is reduced, the microstructure and properties of the welded joints are improved. The friction stir welding coefficients of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy increases to 86.9%.

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of MIG Welded Al-Mg-Si-xCu Alloys

Welding properties of three alloys with different Cu contents (0.1, 0.4 and 0.9 wt.%) is studied by means of melt inert-gas welding (MIG). The results showed that, with the increase of Cu content from 0.1 wt.% to 0.9 wt.%, the strength and elongation increased obviously. When the Cu content was 0.9 wt.%, the strength and elongation reached 375MPa and 15%, respectively, which is a better match for bearing structure part of vehicles application. Besides, the adding of Cu element provided an increase limit for welding joint strength. Due to abundant coarse phases in fusion zone (FZ) and welding zone (WZ), the strength slightly increased and the failure fracture was different compared with that of 0.1Cu and 0.4Cu alloy. Present result was meaningful and valuable for pushing aluminum application automobile structural parts and other engineering components.

New Weldable Steel for Rebars

A new steel grade, developed at the CELSA steelworks in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and used in the production of rebars, contributes greatly to the development of industrial and civil engineering. Steel B600B is characterised by yield point fyk = 600 MPa and immediate tensile strength ftk = 700 MPa. Tests revealed that the steel satisfies all requirements of related standards, both in terms of strength and processing properties. The mechanical properties of the new steel grade are higher by 20% than those of currently produced steels characterised by the highest mechanical properties (characteristic yield point Re= 500 MPa). As a result, the application of the new steel provides notable technical and economic advantages. The new steel grade meets requirements concerning technical class C in accordance with PN-EN 1992-1-1, which indicates that the steel has a significant yield point margin (being an important advantage in terms of limit state design). Plastic steels are easier to weld and less susceptible to welding crack formation. Technological (research-related) tests revealed the favourable welding properties of the new steel. Welding tests were performed using the manual metal arc welding method, i.e. the most common welding process used when making structural reinforcements. The welding tests involved the making of butt, overlap and cruciform joints. The strength and technological tests revealed that the steel satisfied the requirements specified in the PN-EN ISO 17660-1 standard.

Heat Transfer Mode and Effect of Fluid Flow on the Morphology of the Weld Pool

In this work, the heat transfer by conduction and convection mode and effect of fluid flow on the morphology of the weld pool and the welding properties is investigated during Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) process. In the first part, a computation code under Fortran was elaborated to solve the equations resulting from the finite difference discretization of the heat equation, taking into account the liquid-solid phase change with the associated boundary conditions. In order to calculate the velocity field during welding, the Navier-Stokes equations in the melt zone were simplified and solved considering their stream-vorticity formulation. A mathematical model was developed to study the effect of the melted liquid movement on the weld pool. The evolution of the fraction volume of the liquid and the thermal fields promoted the determination of the molten zone (MZ) and the Heat Affected Zone (HAT) dimensions, which seems to be in good agreement with literature.

Development of Coated Electrodes with Solid Wire and Flux-Cored Alloyed Wire for Microalloyed Steel Welding

In this paper, we will present our investigation of the quality of J55 microalloyed steel welds that were formed by a basic flux-cored wire electrodes that were of appropriate quality and alloyed with Ni and Mo. Based on the comparison and analysis of the obtained results related to the testing of the chemical composition, mechanical properties, toughness at test temperatures, and the microstructure of welding joints formed by a classic and specially coated rutile flux-cored electrode, we assessed the justification to switch from solid wire electrodes to flux-cored alloyed wire electrodes of appropriate quality. The research aim for the application of flux-cored wire electrodes instead of solid wire electrodes is based on the advantages pertaining to a flux-cored wire: molten metal from electrode wire is transferred in the form of fine droplets, easy welding and maximum productivity within all spatial positions related to welding, improved properties of welding joints, and increased productivity when compared to a classic solid wire. Our research encompasses the development of the experimental production at the Research and Development Center IHIS Belgrade (Development Institute for Chemical Power Sources), Serbia, of the new type of a coated electrode with improved welding properties when compared to a classic electrode intended for microalloyed steel welding.