光束摆动法减小激光焊接气孔倾向

针对激光深熔焊过程中易出现的气孔问题,作者提出光束摆动激光焊接减小气孔倾向的工艺。利用3kW快轴流CO2激光器分别对激光焊接过程中可能出现的氮气孔和氩气孔进行了试验研究。结果表明,光束摆动激光焊接对氮气孔有显著的消除效果,随着摆动频率的增加,气孔急剧减少,并且在摆动幅度仅为0．5mm的情况下,就可以起到消除气孔的效果;光束摆动激光焊接对于抑制氩气孔也有一定作用,摆动频率越大,摆动幅度越大,对熔池的搅拌越大,越有利于气泡的逸出,焊缝中氩气孔越少。     

Weldability of 1.6 mm thick aluminium alloy 5182 sheet by single and dual beam Nd: YAG laser welding

Abstract

The weldability of 1.6 mm thick 5182 Al–Mg alloy sheet by the single- and dual-beam Nd:YAG laser welding processes has been examined. Bead-on-plate welds were made using total laser powers from 2.5 to 6 kW, dual-beam lead/lag laser beam power ratios ranging from 3:2 to 2:3 and travel speeds from 4 to 15 m min^-1. The effects of focal position and shielding gas conditions on weld quality were also investigated. Whereas full penetration laser welds could be made using the 3 kW single-beam laser welder at speeds up to 15 m min^-1, the underbead surface was always very rough with undercutting and numerous projections or spikes of solidified ejected metal. This 'spikey' underbead surface geometry was attributed to the effects of the high vapour pressure Mg in the alloy on the keyhole dynamics. The undesirable 'spikey' underbead geometry was unaffected by changes in focal position, shielding gas parameters or other single-beam welding process parameters. Most full penetration dual-beam laser welds exhibited either blow-through porosity at low welding speeds (4–6 m min^-1) or unacceptable 'spikey' underbead surface quality at increased welding speeds up to 13.5 m min^-1. Radiography revealed significant occluded porosity within borderline or partial penetration welds. This was thought to be caused by significant keyhole instability that exists under these welding conditions. A limited range of dual-beam laser process conditions was found that produced sound, pore-free laser welds with good top and underbead surface quality. Acceptable welds were produced at welding speeds of 6 to 7.5 m min^-1 using total laser powers of 4.5–5 kW, but only when the lead laser beam power was greater than or equal to the lagging beam power. The improved underbead quality was attributed to the effect of the second lagging laser beam on keyhole stability, venting of the high vapour pressure Mg from the keyhole and solidification of the underbead weld metal during full penetration dual-beam laser welding.     

Characterisation of plasma induced during high power fibre laser welding of stainless steel

Abstract

The objective of this research is to obtain a fundamental knowledge of generation behaviour and ionised state of a plume or plasma induced during bead on plate welding of a 20 mm thick type 304 stainless steel plate with a 10 kW fibre laser beam of 0˙9 MW mm^–2 power density, on the basis of 10 000 to 40 000 flames s^–1 high speed video observation and spectroscopic analysis. The high power fibre laser produced a partial penetration weld of 12 mm in depth at 50 mm s^–1 welding speed. According to the high speed observation pictures, the laser induced plume was repeatedly generated from a keyhole at the interval of about 0&dot5 ms period to reach 12 mm in maximum height. The spectroscopy indicated the line spectra of neutral atoms of alloying elements of type 304 such as iron (Fe), chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn). However, ionised spectra of alloying elements and line spectra of argon (Ar) neutral atom were not apparently detected under these welding conditions. Furthermore, the temperature and the ionisation degree of the laser induced plume were calculated to be approximately 6000 K and 0&dot02 respectively, by the Bolzman plots and Saha's equation. Consequently, the plume induced with the 10 kW fibre laser beam of the ultra high power density was judged to be weakly ionised plasma from these experimental results.     

TC4钛合金光纤激光摆动焊抑制小孔型气孔的原因分析

采用光纤激光器对8 mm厚TC4钛合金板进行振镜摆动焊接,采用光谱仪和高速摄像机采集等离子体的光谱、图像及小孔的图像,分析摆动焊接抑制小孔型气孔的原因.结果表明,摆动光束对抑制钛合金小孔型焊接气孔具有显著作用;光束未摆动焊接时,焊缝中的气孔率达9.8%;光束摆动后焊缝中的气孔率均降低,其中焊接参数为5 kW、2 m/min,摆动参数为80 Hz、0.5 mm时,小孔形气孔被完全抑制.与光束未摆动相比,光束摆动焊接的小孔稳定性显著增加,其原因是光束摆动提高了光束与熔池液面的接触面积,金属蒸发增强,驱动小孔张开的径向力和轴向力得以增加.     

High quality welding of stainless steel with 10 kW high power fibre laser

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to investigate penetration characteristics, to clarify welding phenomena and to develop high quality welding procedures in bead on plate welding of type 304 austenitic stainless steel plates with a 10 kW fibre laser beam. The penetration depth reached 18 mm at the maximum at 5 mm s^?1. At 50 mm s^?1 or lower welding speeds, however, porosity was generated at any fibre laser spot diameter. On the other hand, at 100 mm s^?1 or higher welding speeds, underfilling and humping weld beads were formed under the conventionally and tightly focused conditions respectively. The generation of spatters was influenced mainly by a strong shear force of a laser induced plume and was greatly reduced by controlling direction of the plume blowing out of a keyhole inlet. The humping formation was dependent upon several dynamic or static factors, such as melt volume above the surface, strong melt flow to the rear molten pool on the top surface, solidification rate and narrow molten pool width and corresponding high surface tension. Its suppression was effective by producing a wider weld bead width under the defocused laser beam conditions or reduction of melt volume out of keyhole inlet under the full penetration welding conditions. Concerning porosity, X-ray transmission in situ observation images demonstrated that pores were formed not only from the tip of the keyhole but also at the middle part because of high power density. The keyhole behaviour was stabilised using a nitrogen shielding gas, resulting in porosity prevention. Consequently, to produce high quality welds in 10 kW high power fibre laser welding, the reduction procedures of welding defects were required on the basis of understanding their formation mechanism, and 10 kW fibre laser power could produce sound deeply penetrated welds of 18 mm depth in a nitrogen shielding gas.     

Correlation between weld formation and processing parameters in CO2 laser welding of steels

Abstract

Laser welding, which has undergone rapid development in the past few decades, is one of the most important applications in laser materials processing. Although some general data are available, precise welding parameters are equipment specific. In the present study, a series of autogenous laser welds on mild and stainless steels has been investigated, using a Trumpf 3·0 kW CO² laser system, to establish welding parameter windows. The correlation between laser power, welding speed, and weld bead profile for bead on plate welding has been obtained. For a constant laser power, penetration depth reaches a stable value as welding speed exceeds 11 000–13 000 mm min^-1. This value is defined as the penetration threshold. Lower welding speed produces deeper penetration. However, under such conditions, the unstable keyhole and weld pool could result in undercut and porosity. The maximum penetration achievable for sound welds on both mild steel and stainless steel was investigated. The correlation between penetration threshold and power level was also established. The parameter windows established for autogenous welds can be adopted effectively on butt jointsif welding speed is reduced by 25%.     

Effect of weakly ionised plasma on penetration of stainless steel weld produced with ultra high power density fibre laser

Abstract

A weakly ionised plasma can be generated in stainless steel welding with a 10 kW fibre laser beam at the ultra high power density of ～1 MW mm^–2 in Ar shielding gas. The objectives of this study are to obtain a fundamental knowledge of optical interaction between a fibre laser beam and the weakly ionised plasma, and to evaluate effects of the plasma on weld penetration. The optical interaction was investigated by the high speed video observation or the power meter measurement of another probe fibre laser beam, which passed horizontally through the weakly ionised plasma induced during bead on plate welding of a 20 mm thick type 304 plate with a 10 kW fibre laser beam of 0˙9 MW mm^–2 in power density. The probe laser observed was refracted at 0˙6 mrad angle in average, which was much lower than the 90 mrad divergence of the focused fibre laser beam. The attenuation of the probe laser was measured to be ～4%, which was not mainly caused by Inverse Bremsstrahlung but by Rayleigh scattering. Moreover, a stable laser welding process could be produced at such ultra high power density that 11˙5 mm deep penetration was obtained even if the laser peak power was modulated 1 ms periodically from 10 to 8˙5 kW. It was consequently considered that the optical interaction between the 10 kW fibre laser beam and the weakly ionised plasma was too small to exert the reduction in weld penetration.     

Effects of weaving laser on scanning laser-MAG hybrid welding characteristics of high-strength steel

Scanning laser-MAG hybrid welding with weaving laser was developed for the bead-on-plate welding of high-strength steel. Weaving laser exerted little effect on the droplet transfer behaviour during the scanning laser-MAG hybrid welding process. In order to achieve the keyhole mode of laser welding, the weaving amplitude should be no more than 2?mm. The weld penetration decreased with the increasing weaving frequency. Compared to laser-MAG hybrid weld, the ratio of arc zone width to laser zone width decreased significantly. Scanning laser-MAG hybrid welding could suppress the porosity defects of weld efficiently. The optimal weaving frequency for the porosity defects suppression was 20?Hz. However, the porosity defects increased sharply with the weaving frequency of laser over 40?Hz. The impact-absorbed energy value of specimen fabricated by scanning laser-MAG hybrid welding was about 46?J, increased by about 31.4% compared to about 35?J of laser-MAG hybrid welding.     

PA position full penetration high power laser beam welding of up to 30 mm thick AlMg3 plates using electromagnetic weld pool support

Abstract

Full penetration 15 kW Yb fibre laser butt welding of thick AlMg3 (AW 5754) plates was performed in PA position. A contactless inductive electromagnetic weld pool support system was used to prevent gravity dropout of the melt. The welding speed needed to achieve 20 mm penetration was ～0·5 m min^?1. An ac power supply of ～244 W at 460 Hz was necessary to completely suppress gravity dropout of the melt and eliminate sagging of the weld pool root side surface. The oscillating magnetic field can suppress the Marangoni convection in the lower part of the weld pool. The system was also successfully used in the full penetration welding of 30 mm thick AlMg3 plates.     

Special features of the formation of welded joints in vertical laser-arc welding of low-alloy steels

ABSTRACT

Investigations were carried out into the special features of the technology of vertical laser-arc welding of large structures made of high-strength and low-alloy steels with a variable welding gap and a large root face.

The parameters of the conditions of vertical laser-arc welding of root passes in the low-alloy steel 30–40 mm thick with a root face of 10 mm (welding speed, the amplitude and frequency of transverse oscillations, the intensity of welding current, arc voltage, laser radiation power) resulting in the formation of high-quality welded joints are determined. The experimental results show that the laser radiation power, required for producing continuous penetration of the root face, depends on the thickness of the parent metal: for the metal thickness of 14–30 mm the sufficient laser radiation power is 3.8 kW, for a thickness of 40 mm it is no less than 4.6 kW to penetrate a depth of 5 mm.

The welded joints have a fine-dispersed acicular structure of the martensitic – bainitic type. The experimental results were used to develop a technology of welding of low-alloy steels of different thickness using robotic equipment.     

Fibre laser welding of aluminium alloy

The objectives of this research are to investigate the effects of various welding conditions on penetration and defect formation, to clarify their welding phenomena and to develop the procedure of reduction of the defect. Fibre laser bead-on-plate welding was performed on several aluminium alloys, in particular A5083, at the power of 6 or 10 kW and several power densities from 0.4 kW/mm². It was found that the weld beads were narrower and deeper with an increase in the laser power density. For example, fully penetrated weld beads in 10 mm thick plates were produced at the laser power density of 640 kW/mm² and the welding speed of 10 m/min. However, convex–concave bead surfaces were formed. Moreover, in the case of the high power density, no porosity and many pores were present at high and low welding speeds, respectively. On the other hand, in the case of the ultra-high power density, few pores were generated in high speed welding. These reasons were interpreted by observing keyhole behaviour, bubble formation and the molten pool geometry during high power fibre laser welding with a high-speed video camera and microfocused X-ray transmission in situ observation method. Moreover, the porosity in the weld bead was reduced and prevented by the utilization of nitrogen gas instead of Ar gas, or the forward inclination angle of 40° (50° from the right angle) in Ar shielding gas.     

Laser pressure welding of Al alloy and low C steel

Abstract

This study was performed to obtain fundamental knowledge concerning the development of laser pressure welding technology for the joining of dissimilar metals. Laser pressure welding of Al alloy A6061 and low C steel SPCC sheets was carried out to investigate the effects of the roller pressure, laser beam scanning speed and irradiation position on the tensile shear and peel strength of welded joints. The interfaces of the joints were observed and analysed by SEM and EDX, and the formation phases on the peeled surfaces were identified with XRD. It was revealed that prevention and suppression of oxidation during welding was extremely important to the production of a sound joint with good mechanical properties. The highest tensile strength and the highest peel strength of joints were obtained at a laser power of 1·8 kW, laser scanning speed of 30 Hz, laser irradiation position at the centreline, roller pressure of more than 245 MPa and welding speed of 0·5 m min^?1 in an Ar atmosphere. The fracture occurred not in the welded zone but in the A6061 base alloy specimen.     

铝合金中厚板高功率激光搅拌焊气孔缺陷工艺调控

高功率激光焊接为铝合金中厚板高质高效焊接提供了有效手段,然而面临焊缝气孔多发的问题. 文中开展了铝合金中厚板高功率激光搅拌焊接气孔缺陷的工艺调控研究,阐明了搅拌振幅和搅拌频率对接头气孔率的影响,并提出了工艺参数优化方法. 结果表明,搅拌振幅主要影响光束运动轨迹横向分布和小孔开口面积;搅拌频率主要影响激光光束运动速度和对后方熔池的搅拌次数;搅拌振幅和频率越大,气孔抑制效果越明显,但焊缝熔深难以满足应用要求;通过控制光束运动轨迹和能量密度,可以实现工艺参数的设计,获得大熔深、少气孔的最佳工艺区间,最终得到熔深高达6.4 mm的少气孔焊接接头.     

Effect of plate thickness on very low‐cycle fatigue properties of butt welded joints containing weld defects. Study of acceptable defect size in girth welds of gas pipelines (Report 2)

Summary

To develop a joining technology for thick ceramics, the fundamental characteristics of high‐power CO₂ laser welding of 87% A1₂O₃ ceramics have been investigated. The results suggest that a penetration depth of 20 mm is possible at a welding speed of 6.5 mm/sec and laser power of 10 kW. The porosity ratio is lower at lower input powers, also tending to decrease with a decreasing welding speed at the same input power. The bending strength decreases with an increasing porosity ratio. Porosities, especially large sink mark porosities at the bead centre, strongly affect the bending strength of welded joints in alumina ceramics. The root bending strength of 4 mm thick butt‐welded plate has the same value as the base material.     

High power laser welding of Nb microalloyed steel plates

Abstract

Laser welding studies on 12 mm thick Nb microalloyed steels were done using a 25 kW CO₂ laser at welding speeds of up to 3 m min^?1 with the aim of identifying the influences of Nb and carbon on laser weldability and weld properties. Welds were examined for solidification flaws, penetration characteristics, microstructure and mechanical properties. Solidification cracking did not appear to be influenced by carbon or Nb in the ranges studied when welding at power levels between 22 and 25 kW. The area fraction of martensite was shown to increase with decreasing energy input and increasing carbon content. Weld metal toughness was improved by reducing carbon content in the range 0·08–0·05%C but was little influenced by Nb. Weld metal and heat affected zone hardness levels were reduced, as expected, by reducing carbon content. The results show that increasing Nb content leads to higher strength material without significant loss of toughness, while lowering carbon content can improve toughness without loss of strength. Thus low carbon Nb microalloyed steels with about 0·05%C can achieve a good combination of parent plate and laser weld properties and appear to be suitable for high power laser welding situations.     

激光摆动焊接工艺参数对不锈钢焊缝成形与气孔率的影响

采用激光摆动焊接实现了5 mm厚1Cr18Ni9Ti不锈钢的焊接,获得成形良好、低气孔率的接头.分析了焊接速度、摆动幅值、摆动频率、摆动形式对焊缝成形和气孔率的影响,从匙孔、熔池流动、气泡逸出的角度揭示了工艺参数影响气孔率的主要机理. 结果表明,对于5 mm厚不锈钢激光摆动焊接,适当提高焊接速度和摆动幅值,更利于减小气孔率;激光摆动频率在100 ~ 300 Hz可以兼顾较低气孔率和较好的焊缝成形;“8”形摆动激光可以获得相对较优的焊缝成形,焊缝气孔率最低,达到2.94%;而线性摆动激光获得焊缝成形最差,气孔率最高,达到19.13%.     

Stitch welding of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy by fiber laser

Stitch welding of plate covered skeleton structure of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloys has a variety of applications in aerospace vehicle manufacture. The laser stitch welding of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloys was carried out by a 4 kW ROFIN fiber laser. Influences of laser welding parameters on the macroscopic geometry, porosity, microstructure and mechanical properties of the stitch welded seams were investigated by digital microscope, optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and universal tensile testing machine. The results showed that the three-pipe nozzle with gas flow rate larger than 5 L/min could avoid oxidization, presenting better shielding effect in comparison with the single-pipe nozzle. Porosity formation could be suppressed with the gap between plate and skeleton less than 0.1 mm, while the existing porosity can be reduced with remelting. The maximum shear strength of stitch welding joint with minimal porosity was obtained by employing laser power of 1700 W, welding speed of 1.5 m/min and defocusing distance of +8 mm.     

CO2 and Nd–YAG laser beam welding of 5754–O aluminium alloy for automotive applications

Abstract

Federal regulations have recently been enacted to reduce significantly the atmospheric pollution caused by motor vehicles. This has compelled automotive manufacturers to improve the fuel efficiency of cars and light trucks by using lightweight materials such as aluminium. The focus of the present work is to develop welding procedures for autogenous CO₂ (continuous mode) and Nd–YAG (continuous mode) laser beam welding of 5754–O aluminium alloy. The mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the welded joints were evaluated using tensile tests, microhardness tests, optical microscopy, and chemical analysis. Results indicate that this alloy can be autogenously laser welded with full penetration, minimum surface discontinuities, and little if any loss of magnesium through vaporisation from the fusion zone. The total elongation (all weld metal) in the longitudinal direction for 5754–O laser welds produced using 5 kW CO₂ and 3 kW continuous wave (CW) Nd–YAG shows a slight decrease with increasing travel speed. Studies indicate that the decreasing tendency is probably due to the orientation of the grains with respect to the loading direction. The welds produced using the 5 kW CO₂ laser at travel speeds between 127 and 212 mm s^-1 displayed a total longitudinal elongation of 19.13–15.12% and those produced using the 3 kW CW Nd–YAG laser at travel speeds between 85 and 148 mm s^-1 displayed a total longitudinal elongation of 22.6–18.15%, compared with the base metal value of 28.1%. An observation of great interest was that the weld surface condition did not have any effect on the ductility of the 5754–O aluminium alloy studied in the present investigation.     

铝合金厚板激光扫描填丝焊接气孔抑制

为减少大厚板5A06铝合金激光焊接缺陷,提高焊接过程稳定性,采用激光光束以一定方式运动的扫描焊接的新焊接方法,研究了激光束不同的运动轨迹、幅度、频率对铝合金激光深熔焊接焊缝气孔率的影响,并在焊接坡口设计优化基础上应用窄间隙扫描激光填丝焊接技术进行130 mm厚5A06铝合金焊接试验. 结果表明,采用圆形扫描方式,当激光光束的扫描幅度大于1 mm,扫描频率选择最高频率附近时,能够大幅降低焊缝气孔率;采用窄间隙激光扫描填丝的焊接方法,获得了焊缝平均气孔率1%,无侧壁未熔合、层间未熔合、裂纹等焊接缺陷的130 mm厚5A06铝合金优质焊接接头.     

Control of nitrogen content and porosity in gas tungsten arc welding of high nitrogen steel

Abstract

In welding of high nitrogen steel (HNS), it is essential to control the nitrogen content and porosity in the weld metal. In this paper, the influence of shielding gas composition and heat input on the nitrogen content and porosity in the weld metal of HNS was investigated by gas tungsten arc welding. The experimental results indicate that the weld nitrogen content increases as N₂ in the shielding gas is increased in the same heat input of welding. The weld nitrogen content decreases with increasing the heat input for pure argon used as a shielding gas, whereas it increases with increasing the heat input for the shielding gas including some nitrogen. The nitrogen pore can be avoided when the nitrogen content in the shielding gas is <4% in the heat input range of 528–2340 J mm^–1.