Optimization of HPVP-GTAW process parameters for Al-Mg aluminum alloy welded joints

Optimization of hybrid ultrahigh frequency pulse variable polarity gas tungsten arc welding （HPVP-GTAW） process was carried out to obtain the optimum weld characteristics of 5AO6-HX4 aluminum-magnesium alloy sheets of 3 mm thickness. The square butt joints were produced by HPVP-GTA W process, the microstructure and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. It is observed that the process parameters influence the weld microstructure and mechanical properties significantly. Weld microstructure is mainly composed of grid a （A1） solid solution, with a large number of intermetallic （ Mg2Al3 ） precipitates distributed in the matrix. The amount of ~ （ Mg2Al3 ） precipitates has an obvious difference with different parameters. Compared with that of the base material, tensile strength of 5AO6-HX4 alloy welded joints has a certain reduction, as well as the elongation and reduction of area. The optimized welding process parameters for 5A06-HX4 alloy sheets are presented.     

电流换向速率对2219铝合金VPTIG焊缝的影响

研究开发了一种适用于铝合金材料的新型超快速变换变极性方波电弧焊接技术,以2219-T87高强铝合金为试验对象,分别采用常规变极性和超快变换变极性TIG电弧焊接工艺,研究了变极性电流的换向速率对焊缝气孔敏感性和接头力学性能的影响.结果表明,提高变极性电流上升沿和下降沿的变化速率,减少电流过零时间,可显著降低2219-T87高强铝合金焊接接头的气孔敏感性,焊缝中气孔数量明显减少甚至消除;由于焊缝熔合区的软化问题,焊接接头抗拉强度和断后伸长率的增加幅度不大,分别提高了8.97%和12.6%.     

Characteristics of arc in variable polarity plasma arc welding of aluminum alloy

A double invert variable polarity plasma arc （VPPA） power source based on 16-bit MCU applied for aluminum alloys was developed. Mechanics, electrical and the produced heat mechanism of VPPAW arc were tested and analyzed. Results indicate that during the VPPA welding procedure of aluminum alloy, the arc of electrode negative （EN） has more effect on force, whereas the arc of electrode positive （ EP ） has more effect on heat. It should be noted that keeping the balance of the force and heat is the critical element of VPPAW. This power source had been successfully used to weld aluminum alloy with a 15 mm thickness in vertical welding. The conclusions are applicable to the variable polarity plasma arc welding technique used in the aerospace industry.     

HPVP-GTAW电弧力及焊接质量分析

分别以3种不同材质铝合金平板材料为试验对象,研究分析了复合超高频脉冲方波变极性钨极氩弧焊接(HPVP-GTAW)过程中电弧力的变化及其对焊缝成形特征和接头力学性能的影响.结果表明,与常规变极性氩弧焊工艺相比,脉冲方波电流的加入使得HPVP-GTAW电弧力显著增加,同时焊缝熔透率大幅提高,接头力学性能得到明显改善和提高;保持脉冲电流幅值和占空比基本不变,在10～80 kHz范围内,脉冲电流频率对焊接过程产生了重要影响,频率为40 kHz时,HPVP-GTAW电弧力和焊缝熔透率均达到最大,分别约为常规变极性焊接电弧的1.9倍和1.7倍.     

Formative mechanism of the undercut defect in horizontal variable polarity plasma arc welding

Abstract Horizontal welding is important for heavy or huge welding structures. Keyhole mode variable polarity plasma arc welding of aluminum alloy plates with medium thickness was carried out in horizontal position. The characteristic of welding defects was introduced. Preliminary experiments indicated that the undercut defect could not be eliminated easily. The relationship between welding parameters and the undercut defect showed that this deject could be lessened by using higher heat input. The fluid flow of weld pool was observed by a high speed camera. The fluid flow in weld pool was not symmetric and much of molten metal gathered in the lower part. The fluid flow velocity in the lower part was bigger than that in the upper part. To this end, the formative mechanism of the undercut defect was proposed. The flowability of the molten metal was an influential factor for the undercut defect. A preheating method was designed to verify the formative mechanism.     

2219-T87高强铝合金复合超高频脉冲方波VP-GTAW焊缝成形特征

采用平板堆焊工艺进行2219-T87高强铝合金焊接,研究了复合超高频脉冲方波变极性钨极氩弧焊接(HPVP-GTAW)过程中超高频脉冲方波电流特征参数对焊缝熔透成形的影响.结果表明,在正极性有效电流保持基本一致(变化范围±5 A)条件下,与常规VP-GTAW电弧焊接相比,超高频脉冲方波电流的加入可提高2219-T87铝合金焊缝的熔透率,焊缝熔透率增加20%以上;脉冲电流频率对焊缝熔透率有明显影响;在一定范围内增加脉冲电流幅值,减小占空比,可显著提高焊缝熔透率,脉冲电流幅值100 A和占空比20%时,焊缝熔透率增加75%以上.     

A novel ultrafast-convert hybrid pulse square-wave VP-GTAW process for aluminum alloys

A novel ultrafast-convert hybrid pulse square-wave variable polarity arc welding power source was developed.The variable polarity current which crossed zero with no dead time possessed the ultrafast converting speed and the series of ultrasonic pulse current were superimposed in the positive polarity current duration.A high-efficiency hybrid pulse variable polarity gas tungsten arc welding (HPVP-GTAW) process for aluminum alloys was achieved.With X-ray inspeetion,microstructure analysis,tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for fracture surface,the square butt welding characteristics of 5A06,2AI4 and 2219 aluminum alloys were tested,respectively.Experimental results show that microstructure and mechanical properties of these aluminum alloy welded joints are influenced significantly by the introduction of ultrasonic pulse current.The weld quality is improved predominantly by the novel HPVP-GTA W process.     

Effects of pulse parameters on arc characteristics and weld penetration in hybrid pulse VP-GTAW of aluminum alloy

A novel ultrafast-convert hybrid pulse variable polarity gas tungsten arc welding process(HPVP-GTAW)is developed.High frequency pulse square-wave current which has a frequency of more than 20 kHz is exactly integrated in the positive polarity current duration.The effects of pulse current parameters on arc characteristics and weld penetration have been studied during the HPVP-GTAW process using Al-5.8 Mg alloy plates.The arc characteristics studied by arc voltage and its profile,weld penetration noted by the ratio of weld depth to width have been found to be influenced significantly by the pulse current.The experimental results show that the HPVP-GTAW process can improve the arc profile predominantly and obtain the higher weld penetration with lower heat input.The observation may help in understanding the weld characteristics with respect to variation in the pulse current parameters which may be beneficial in using the novel HPVP-GTAW process to produce the better weld quality of aluminum alloy plates.     

不同脉冲频率条件下2219-T87高强铝合金焊缝成形行为

采用复合超高频脉冲方波变极性钨极氩弧焊接技术完成了2219-T87高强铝合金平板堆焊试验,分析了脉冲电流频率对焊缝成形特征的影响及其规律.结果表明,脉冲电流频率对电弧特性及熔池流动行为有较大影响,造成焊缝熔宽、熔深及熔透率出现显著变化.脉冲频率f_H<60 kHz时,焊缝熔宽、熔深随脉冲频率的增加而增大,熔透率在f_H<35 kHz时基本保持不变,在f_H>35 kHz时出现显著提升,较常规变极性氩弧焊(VP-GTAW)至少提高了34%;当脉冲频率达到60 kHz时,焊缝熔透率达到最大,较VP-GTAW提高了约60%;脉冲频率f_H>65 kHz时,熔宽、熔深及熔透率呈现回落趋势.     

发展中的变极性焊接电源技术

变极性电源是一种用于铝合金焊接的新型焊接电源，其焊接电流频率和正负半波电流幅值，时间比可以分别独立调节，输出电源过零极快，因此电弧稳定性得到大大改善。在保证阴极清理作用的前提下，可以最大限度地减少钨极的烧损。目前主要应用于TIG焊和PAW焊中，和焊接铝及铝合金。随着电弧信息测控技术的不断进步，将加深对变极性焊接过程的认识，促进变极性焊接电源的发展和应用。     

铝合金变极性穿孔型等离子弧焊工艺的热源模型

选用包含面高斯热源和圆柱体热源模型的组合热源模型去模拟变极性穿孔型等离子弧焊工艺的温度场．通过大量的工艺试验,分析主要工艺参数对铝合金变极性穿孔型等离子弧焊成形的影响．借助有限元分析手段,在热源模型和实际工艺参数之间建立了联系,并通过线性回归分析的方法将这种联系用数学方式表达出来．结果表明,变极性穿孔型等离子弧焊除了电流和行走速度外,离子气流量、钨极内缩量和喷嘴末端到工件表面的距离都是十分重要的工艺参数,对焊缝形貌特征影响很大．     

脉冲电流频率对2219铝合金焊缝组织性能的影响

采用超快速变换复合高频脉冲方波变极性TIG电弧焊接方法进行2219-T87高强铝合金焊接,研究脉冲方波电流频率对焊缝组织性能的影响.结果表明,加入脉冲方波电流后,焊缝组织明显细化,焊缝区由粗大柱状晶向细小等轴晶转变.当脉冲电流频率达超音频段时,在焊缝中部还存在一种呈带状分布的细小等轴非枝晶组织,并与等轴树枝晶组织交替分布.与未加入脉冲电流相比,当脉冲电流频率为60kHz时,接头抗拉强度和断后伸长率分别增加约17.6%和66%.在一定范围内提高脉冲电流频率,可显著减小焊缝熔合区宽度,改善接头硬度分布,明显提高接头塑性,但对接头强度的影响作用并不明显.     

高强铝合金双脉冲VPPA焊缝成形机理

建立双脉冲VPPA(variable polarity plasma arc)焊接系统,进行7A52高强铝合金双脉冲VPPA焊接工艺试验,研究低频脉冲调制叠加高频脉冲对VPPA焊接过程中焊缝成形和焊缝力学性能的影响. 结果表明,低频脉冲周期性振荡液态熔池,可获得表面饱满的鱼鳞纹焊缝;高频脉冲使电弧更为集中,有效地提高了电弧能量密度,穿透力加强;双脉冲耦合振荡加强了对熔池的搅动作用细化了铝合金焊缝晶粒. 焊接接头抗拉强度达到384.13 MPa,相比VPPA焊接接头强度提高了10.21%左右;焊接接头断面收缩率和断后伸长率均有一定程度的提高. 铝合金双脉冲VPPA焊接工艺提高了焊接接头力学性能.     

交直流混合VPPA特性及铝合金立焊工艺

厚板铝合金变极性等离子弧(VPPA)穿孔立焊工艺中,由于焊接电流大,长时间焊接时钨极的烧损量大,严重影响厚板大结构自动焊接质量.为此提出了通过交直流混合输出减少钨极烧损,同时提高焊接质量的新型铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔焊接方法.该方法在保证氧化膜清理的前提下,减小了因反极性时间过短电弧在极短时间内两次过零造成的等离子弧力下降和过大的感应电动势对开关器件的损害.其次交直流混合输出电弧具有低频调制效果,起到熔池振荡、细化晶粒的作用.在实现交直流混合VPPA软硬件功能基础上研究了交直流混合VPPA等离子弧力学特性、焊接过程稳定性及焊缝成形机理.通过对焊缝显微组织及焊缝成形检验发现,交直流混合输出时焊缝晶粒细化,焊缝成形美观,实现了减少钨极烧损和提高焊缝质量双重目标.     

铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔焊过程控制

分析了铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊工艺特点,提出了通过对焊接参数的精确控制,实现变断面铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊工艺的方法,并将焊接电流、离子气流量和焊接速度确定为变断面铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊过程的被调节参数.保持穿孔熔池上"热"和"力"的动态平衡是调节焊接参数的根本依据,是实现变断面试件自动焊接的关键所在.采用单片机为核心的控制器对焊接参数进行实时调节,动态保持穿孔熔池上热和力平衡,实现了变断面铝合金变极性等离子弧穿孔立焊工艺.     

2219高强铝合金超快变换VPTIG焊缝组织和性能

研究开发了一种适用于铝合金材料的新型超快速变换变极性方波电弧焊接技术,以2219-T87高强铝合金为试验对象,采用高频变极性TIG电弧焊接工艺,研究了变极性方波电流频率对焊缝显微组织和拉伸性能的影响.结果表明,随着电流极性变换频率的提高,2219-T87铝合金焊接接头显微组织明显细化,由粗大柱状晶转变为细小等轴晶,接头抗拉强度和断后伸长率显著提高,接头断裂类型由脆性断裂转变为"韧性+脆性"的混合型断裂模式.当电流极性变换频率为1kHz时,2219-T87焊接接头抗拉强度和断后伸长率分别达到母材金属的69%和58%.     

Weld shape variation and electrode protection under Ar–(Ar–O2) double shielded GTA welding

Abstract

Double shielded gas tungsten arc welding (GTA welding or TIG welding) of an SUS304 stainless steel with pure inert argon as the inner layer shielding and the Ar–O₂ active gas as the outer layer shielding is proposed in this study in order to investigate its effect on the tungsten electrode protection and the weld shape variation. The experimental results show that the inner inert argon gas can successfully prevent the outer layer active gas from contacting and oxidising the tungsten electrode during the welding process. The active gas, oxygen, in the outer layer shielding is decomposed in the arc and dissolves in the liquid pool, which effectively adjusts the active element, oxygen, content in the weld metal. When the weld metal oxygen content is over 70 ppm, the surface tension induced Marangoni convection changes from outward into inward, and the weld shape varies from a wide shallow one to a narrow deep one. The effect of the inner layer gas flowrate on the weld bead morphology and the weld shape is investigated systematically. The results showed that when the flowrate of the inner argon shielding gas is too low, the weld bead is easily oxidised and the weld shape is wide and shallow. A heavy continuous oxide layer on the liquid pool is a barrier to the liquid pool movement.     

高频脉冲变极性焊接工艺性能研究

分析了高频脉冲电流对变极性焊接电弧特性、焊接工艺及焊缝性能的影响,试验结果表明,高频电流脉冲能够较大程度地压缩电弧等离子体、提高电弧轴向压力及电弧挺度,在相同焊接电流有效值的情况下,频率在5kHz以上的电流脉冲能将电弧力提高到普通变极性焊接的260%左右.同时高频脉冲电流能够提高变极性焊接的焊缝熔深,减小焊缝正面余高以及改善焊接效率.对于2219-T6时效强化铝合金而言,采用叠加10 kHz高频脉冲变极性焊接工艺,焊缝抗拉强度在未经任何焊后热处理的情况下能够达到300 MPa左右,相当于母材强度的67%.     

VPTIG焊接电流参数对电弧形态及焊缝质量的影响

采用高速录像系统、记忆示波器同步实时采集变极性氩弧（VFFIG）焊接电流、电弧形态信息,比较分析了VFFIG焊接电流频率、直流电极接负（DCEN）时间和直流电极接正（DCEP）时间、DCEN及DCEP电流幅值5个参数对电弧形态及焊缝质量的影响。结果表明,通过调节以上5个参数,可以控制电弧形态、电弧力及焊接热输入,从而控制熔深及焊缝正反面成形;控制焊缝两侧清理区宽度;减少钨极烧损。采用平板对接低频脉冲调制铝合金VFFIG焊接工艺,单道焊熔深可达6min,焊缝成形良好、质量可靠。     

不锈钢电弧辅助活性TIG焊

针对不锈钢,提出了一种新型活性YIG焊方法--电弧辅助活性TIG焊,即AA-TIG焊(arc assisted activating TIG welding).该焊接方法通过在正常TIG焊前以活性混合气体作为保护气体,采用小电流钨极电弧预熔待焊焊道表面,可使熔深显著增加,焊接效率大大提高,而且具有可全自动化焊接和工艺可重复性好等优点.分别采用O2+Ar,CO2+Ar,空气作为小电流钨极电弧的保护气体进行了单弧AA-TIG焊.与传统TIG焊比较,发现O2+Ar,CO2+Ar和空气都可显著增加熔深,减小熔宽,焊缝表面成形良好.采用CO2+Ar作为活性混合保护气体进行双弧AA-TIG焊,焊缝成形良好,熔深显著增加.熔深随着焊枪间距减小而增大.