Effect of welding heat input and post-weld aging time on microstructure and mechanical properties in dissimilar friction stir welded AA7075–AA5086

The effects of welding heat input and post-weld heat treatment on the mechanical and microstructural aspects of dissimilar friction stir welds of age-hardened AA7075-T6 and strain hardenable AA5086-H32 aluminium alloys were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) residual stress analysis and tensile testing together with optical metallography and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to assess the effects of process parameters on welded joints. It was discovered that joints produced without heat sink exhibited more homogeneous stir zones than other joints. Of the natural aging time studied, higher amount of solid solution during rapid cooling of welds produced higher driving force for increase in hardness in the AA7075 side during natural aging. Natural aging within stirring zone and thermo-mechanical affected zone of AA7075 side resulted in a 10 to 25 MPa reduction in the residual stress in these zones; its effect decreased considerably in the welds performed without heat sink. In addition, natural aging had no noticeable effect on the joint strength.     

异种铝合金摩擦塞补焊工艺与组织性能

采用顶锻式摩擦塞补焊方法,以2219-T6铝合金为塞棒材料,分别对8 mm厚2024-T3和7075-T6两种铝合金FSW接头进行了摩擦塞补焊试验研究,深入探讨了不同焊接压力下塞补焊接头的微观组织、显微硬度、力学性能及断口形貌特征. 结果表明,塞棒和母材或FSW焊缝是由等轴晶进行过渡,获得了紧密结合的接头,热力影响区和热影响区晶粒发生长大. 整个塞补焊接头塞棒区软化最严重,硬度在85 ~ 95 HV之间. 2024铝合金塞补焊接头抗拉强度和断后伸长率分别达到了母材的70%和65%以上,7075铝合金塞补焊接头抗拉强度和断后伸长率分别达到了母材的62%和48%以上. 塞补焊接头断裂模式为韧性特征.     

搅拌摩擦焊AA7075-T651铝合金接头的疲劳裂纹扩展(英文)

研究12 mm厚AA7075-T651铝合金板搅拌摩擦焊接头的疲劳裂纹扩展行为。从搅拌摩擦焊接头以及母材中截取试样,对试样进行疲劳裂纹扩展实验。对搅拌摩擦焊接头以及母材的横向拉伸性能进行评估。用光学显微镜和透射电镜分析焊接接头的显微组织。用扫描电镜观察试样的断裂表面。与母材相比,焊接接头的ΔKcr降低了10×10-3 MPa·m1/2。搅拌摩擦焊AA7075-T651接头的疲劳寿命明显低于母材的,其原因可归结于焊缝区的析出相在搅拌摩擦焊接过程中的溶解。     

Effect of friction welding conditions and aging treatment on mechanical properties of A7075-T6 aluminium alloy friction joints

Abstract

This article describes the effect of friction welding conditions and aging treatment on the mechanical properties of type 7075-T6 aluminium alloy (A7075) friction welded joints. A7075 was joined by using a continuous drive friction welding machine with an electromagnetic clutch in order to prevent braking deformation during as rotation speed decreases. That is, it was welded by using the 'Low Heat Input Friction Welding Method' (LHI method) developed by the authors, in which heat input is lower than in the conventional method. The maximum joint efficiency at a friction pressure of 30 MPa was approximately 25%, and that at 90 MPa was approximately 64%. These joints were made without forge pressure. The low joint efficiency was due to the existence of non-joined regions at the welded interfaces. However, the welded joint had approximately 82% joint efficiency when the friction time was 0·5 s at a friction pressure of 90 MPa with a forge pressure of 180 MPa. The welded joint softened at the welded interface and its adjacent region. It had approximately 90% joint efficiency after aging for 730 days at room temperature (natural aging). It also had approximately 95% joint efficiency after aging for 48 h at 393 K (120°C), and had no softened region at the welded interface. The heat input of the welded joint with the LHI method could be decreased to approximately 50% of that with the conventional method. The LHI method has several advantages for A7075 friction welding; less heat input than with the conventional method, and light post-weld processing (machining, etc.) because the flash can be minimised.     

Effect of post-heat treatment on the fatigue behaviour of a friction stir spot-welded Al–Mg–Si alloy

In this paper, the effect of post heat treatment on fatigue behaviour of friction stir spot welded Al–Mg–Si aluminium alloy was investigated. The microstructure of the weld zone was classified into two regions: stir zone (SZ) and mixed zone (MZ), where fine equiaxed grains due to dynamic recrystallization were observed. Two kinds of post heat treatment, namely aging and T6 treatment, were applied to the as-welded joints. The grains in the SZ and MZ were extremely enlarged only by T6 treatment, but some fine grains still remained near the boundary of MZ. Fatigue tests were conducted using lap-shear specimens at a stress ratio R = 0.1. Post heat treatments exhibited little influence on fatigue strength, but fatigue fracture morphology was dependent on both load level and post heat treatment. At high applied loads, fatigue fracture took place through the MZ in the as-welded and aged joints, while along the boundary of MZ in the T6 treated joint. At low applied loads, the fatigue crack initiated at the edge of the nugget and then propagated through the upper sheet in the as-welded joint, but the lower sheet in the aged and T6 treated joints. The dependence of fracture morphology on post heat treatment was attributed to the change of microstructures and hardness distribution around the nugget by post heat treatment.     

Effect of different pre- and post-weld heat treatments on microstructures and mechanical properties of variable polarity TIG welded AA2219 joints

The microstructures and mechanical properties of 2219 aluminium alloy joints welded by variable polarity TIG welding in four kinds of different heat treatment conditions, namely, with/without pre-/post-weld heat treatment, were analysed and compared. The post-weld artificial aging treatment rendered fine dispersed precipitates (metastable θ′ phase) separate out of weld metal, which made the hardness of weld metal increase by ～20%. Meanwhile, the fracture location of joints during tensile test changed from weld zone to heat affected zone (HAZ). The pre-weld solution treatment reduced the overaging degree of HAZ and a large number of θ′ phase reprecipitated in HAZ after post-weld artificial aging treatment. Intermediate state welding, with pre-weld solution treatment and post-weld artificial aging treatment together, could increase 20% of the hardness of weld zone, increase 11.5% of the hardness of HAZ and increase 20.3% of the tensile strength of joint.     

焊后热处理对AA7075铝合金DP-MIG焊接接头组织及力学性能的影响

采用双脉冲熔化极精性气体保护焊（DP-MIG）工艺方法焊接AA7075-T651铝合金,焊接试板采用固溶处理（480℃×50 min）后水淬,再进行（80℃×24 h）+（120℃×24 h）两级人工时效热处理,通过金相观察、扫描电镜观察、X射线衍射分析、拉伸试验以及硬度测试,研究焊后热处理（PWHT）工艺对焊接接头显微组织及力学性能的影响.结果表明,焊缝区经热处理后,晶粒由枝晶向等轴晶转变,晶界处非平衡第二相溶解,晶界变细,焊缝显微组织特性改善明显;焊接接头经热处理后,抗拉强度由342.5 MPa提高到490 MPa,接头强度系数为0.872,焊缝软化区硬度得到较大改善,焊接接头力学性能有显著提升.     

Rupture locations of friction stir welded joints of AA2017-T351 and AA6061-T6 aluminum alloys

The tensile rupture locations of friction stir welded joints of AA2017-T351 and AA6061-T6 aluminum alloys were examined. The experiments show that the rupture locations of the joints are different for the two aluminum alloys, which are influenced by the welding parameters. When the joints are free of welding defects, the AA2017-T351 joints are ruptured in the weld nugget adjacent to the thermo-mechanically affected zone on the advancing side and the rupture surfaces appear as oval contours of the weld nugget, while the AA6061-T6 joints are ruptured in the heat affected zone on the retreating side and the rupture surfaces are inclined at a certain degree to the bottom surfaces of the joints. When welding defects are present in the joints, the AA2017-T351 joints are ruptured in the weld center, while the AA6061-T6 joints are ruptured on the retreating side near the weld center. The rupture locations of the joints are dependent on the internal structures of the joints and can be explained through them.     

2219-T6激光同轴辅助搅拌摩擦焊性能与组织分析

对2219-T6铝合金激光同轴辅助搅拌摩擦焊接头的宏观形貌、力学性能及显微组织进行了研究.结果表明,激光辅助热源的加入有助于消除金属塑性流动不充分引起的隧道缺陷,提升接头性能,但激光功率过大会加剧焊缝软化而使性能下降.激光辅助热源使焊核区扩大,且焊核区中θ相（Al₂Cu）增大,但对热力影响区的显微组织无明显影响.通过固溶+人工时效方法的焊后热处理以显著提升接头强度（从母材强度的76%提升100%）.加入激光的焊核区及热力影响区在热处理后晶粒尺寸相比不加入激光有所减小,且激光功率越大,对应的晶粒尺寸越小.     

Effect of initial base metal temper on mechanical properties in AA7050 friction stir welds

Abstract

The effect of initial base metal temper on mechanical properties in AA7050 friction stir welds was investigated. AA7050 plates, 6·4 mm thick, with three different heat treatment conditions (T7451, T62 and W), were friction stir welded using nearly identical welding parameters, followed by post-weld aging approximating a T7451 heat treatment. The microstructure, transverse hardness profiles and transverse tensile properties were characterised for these three welds. Experimental results show that preweld heat treatment conditions of AA7050 base metal have significant effect on the mechanical properties of the friction stir welds. Friction stir welding of AA7050 in the W condition, followed by post-weld aging, can change the fracture location from HAZ to weld nugget and increase tensile and yield strengths and elongation in transverse tension, relative to welding in T62 or T7451 conditions.     

阶梯形正反螺纹搅拌针对2A12-T4铝合金 FSLW接头力学性能的影响

搅拌针上螺纹分布情况会对搅拌摩擦焊接头内部材料流动行为产生重要影响,进而影响接头成形及力学性能. 采用锥形螺纹搅拌针和阶梯形正反螺纹搅拌针进行2A12-T4铝合金搅拌摩擦搭接焊试验,对比分析了两种搅拌针下搅拌摩擦搭接焊接头横截面形貌、显微组织、拉剪性能及接头断裂位置. 结果表明,两种搅拌针下接头横截面形貌均呈现“碗状”. 然而,在阶梯形正反螺纹搅拌针焊接下搭接界面后退侧出现特有的“括号”形貌. 相对于锥形螺纹搅拌针,阶梯形正反螺纹搅拌针下的接头热力影响区与热影响区晶粒分布相差不大,但焊核区晶粒细化程度更加明显;接头在焊接速度80 mm/min下可获得最大拉剪性能,其值为10.39 kN. 阶梯形正反螺纹搅拌针下接头界面后退侧出现的“括号”形貌阻碍了裂纹向焊核区进一步扩展,断裂模式表现为拉伸断裂.     

Microstructure Stability During Creep of Friction Stir Welded AA2024-T3 Alloy

The poor weldability of the AA2024 aluminum alloy limits its use in industrial applications. Because friction stir welding (FSW) is a non-fusion welding process, it seems to be a promising solution for welding this alloy. In the current study, FSW was applied to butt weld AA2024-T3 aluminum alloy plates. Creep tests were conducted at 250 and at 315 °C on both the parent material and the friction stir welded specimens. The microstructures of the welded and non-welded AA2024-T3 specimens before and after the creep tests were studied and compared. A comprehensive transmission electron microscopy study together with a high-resolution scanning electron microscopy study and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis was conducted to investigate the microstructure stability. The parent material seems to contain two kinds of Cu-rich precipitates—coarse precipitates of a few microns each and uniformly dispersed fine nanosized precipitates. Unlike the parent material, the crept specimens were found to contain the two kinds of precipitates mentioned above together with platelet-like precipitates. In addition, extensive decoration of the grain boundaries with precipitates was clearly observed in the crept specimens. Controlled aging experiments for up to 280 h at the relevant temperatures were conducted on both the parent material and the welded specimens in order to isolate the contribution of exposure to high temperatures to the microstructure changes. TEM study showed the development of dislocation networks into a cellular dislocation structure in the case of the parent metal. Changes in the dislocation structure as a function of the creep strain and the FSW process were recorded. A detailed creep data analysis was conducted, taking into account the instability of the microstructure.     

Effect of post-weld heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy

6061 aluminum alloy T-joints were welded by double-pulsed MIG welding process. Then, the post-weld heat treatment was performed on the welded T-joints. The weld microstructure under different aging temperature and time was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were examined by hardness test and tensile test. The results showed that the micro-hardness was sensitive to heat treatment temperature and time. Increasing temperature was beneficial to the shortening of peak aging time. There were a large number of dislocations and few precipitates in the welded joints. With the increase of post-weld heat treatment temperature and time, the density of dislocation decreased. Meanwhile, the strengthening phase precipitated and grew up gradually. When the post-weld heat treatment temperature increased up to 200 °C, large Q' phases were observed. And they were responsible for the peak value of the micro-hardness in the welded joints.     

工艺参数对搅拌摩擦焊变形铝合金接头性能的影响

文中采用搅拌摩擦焊方法对4 mm厚的1060,2024,6061三种变形铝合金板材进行对接试验,焊后利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜分析、对比了焊接接头各区的微观组织和试样断口形貌,并测试了其拉伸性能和显微硬度.结果表明,三种材料接头焊核区的组织细小且焊核区的硬度最高,而热影响区组织粗大且硬度最低.接头的强度都随焊接速度和搅拌头旋转速度的增大呈先增大后减小的趋势,且接头最优抗拉强度与母材强度呈线性关系.拉伸试验中试样在热影响区断裂、断口呈韧窝状,为典型的韧性断裂.热影响区组织粗大和二次相偏聚是造成接头薄弱点的主要原因.     

Microstructure evolution and fracture behaviour of friction stir welded 6061-T6 thin plate joints under high rotational speed

6061-T6 sheets with 0.8?mm thickness were successfully welded using high-speed friction stir welding (FSW) technology. The microstructural evolution and fracture behaviour of the joints were studied. The results show that sound joints could be obtained at the investigated high rotational speed of 8000?rev?min^?1 and welding speeds of 300–1200?mm?min^?1. Compared with conventional rotational speed, the grain size in the nugget zone (NZ) is obviously refined under high rotational speed. The Mg₂Si, Al₈Fe₂Si and Al₂CuMg precipitates reprecipitated adequately in the NZ during high-speed FSW, resulting in the number of the precipitates increased significantly, and further alleviating the weld softening. The difference in weld softening leads to different fracture characteristics during the tensile process. After artificial aging, the maximum welding softening in all joints is located in the heat affected zone, and the fracture is characterised by brittle fracture.     

6061-T6/7075-T6异种铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头组织与性能

利用搅拌摩擦焊实现了2 mm厚7075-T6/6061-T6异种铝合金连接,并对材料放置位置和转速对接头成形与组织性能的影响进行了分析. 结果表明,7075-T6铝合金置于前进侧时更有利于焊接过程中材料的迁移行为,焊缝成形及接头性能更优.当焊接速度为150 mm/min、转速为1 000 r/min时,可获得内部无明显缺陷、外观良好的异种铝合金接头;相较于母材,热力影响区的小角度晶界含量增加,焊核区发生动态再结晶,小角度晶界转化为大角度晶界;接头拉伸性能随转速的增加,呈现先增加后减小的趋势.接头的平均抗拉强度和断后伸长率分别达到231 MPa和4.0%. 接头的断裂位置位于6061侧焊核区,与接头硬度最小位置相吻合.     

7075铝合金FSW接头腐蚀疲劳性能及断裂特征

以7075-T6铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头为研究对象,对其显微组织结构、3.5% NaCl(质量分数)溶液腐蚀疲劳寿命和腐蚀疲劳断裂特征进行了研究,分析了7075铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头的腐蚀疲劳性能及断裂过程.结果表明,7075-T6铝合金搅拌摩擦焊接头腐蚀疲劳S-N曲线方程为lgN=5.845-0.014S,随着应力幅增大,腐蚀疲劳寿命大幅度降低;腐蚀疲劳裂纹起源于接头的热影响区,逐渐扩展最终断裂于接头的焊核区.腐蚀疲劳断口存在多个裂纹源,且受到应力集中作用的影响,裂纹源萌生于腐蚀坑处.高应力作用加剧了试样边角部分的腐蚀损伤,导致边角比平面位置腐蚀程度更严重.裂纹扩展区出现了明显的晶间断裂和疲劳辉纹;在腐蚀介质和交变载荷的共同作用下,裂纹扩展区腐蚀程度最重,晶界处产生了阳极溶解现象并产生了“冰糖块状”和“蚁巢状”的形貌特征;瞬断区产生了大量解理台阶和二次裂纹,为脆性断裂,在第二相粒子分布区域存在孔洞形貌特征.     

Effect of tool plunge depth on joint formation and mechanical performance of friction stir forming joints made between AA 5052-H32 and AA 6061-T6 sheet metals

The potential of friction stir forming for joining dissimilar grades of aluminum alloys namely, AA 5052-H32 and AA 6061-T6, was investigated. Study on the effect of tool plunge depth revealed that, lap shear load of 7.16 kN and cross-tensile load of 3.51 kN, recorded at medium tool plunge depth range from 0.5 to 0.7 mm, measured using a universal testing machine, were much larger than those of friction stir welded and friction stir spot welded joints fabricated on the same materials. Joint macrostructure observed with optical microscope revealed that joints were strengthened either by mechanical pin interlocking or by metallurgical bonding. The effect of tool plunge depth on the stir zone formation and the influence of frictional heat flux on the lower sheet were revealed through the microhardness measurement using Vickers hardness tester. Morphological studies revealed that tool plunge depth has a significant influence on the pin formation and the geometric features, generated in these joints. Occurrence of various failure modes such as pin pull-out, pin shear, partial bond delamination, and tear-off, were governed by the formation of critical weak zones at various tool plunge depths.     

Effect of joint design on mechanical properties of AL7075 weldment

The effects of joint design on the mechanical properties of AL7075-T6 aluminum sheet were studied on the latest automated gas-tungsten arc-welding system. Using ER5356 filler metal, full-penetration welds were made on workpieces with various included joint angles. Testing of the mechanical properties of the joints was done in the as-welded, naturally aged, and postweld heat-treated conditions. The results show that by using crack-resistant filler, and by selecting the proper joint design and postweld heat treatment, strong, dependable welds can be produced on thin AL7075 sheet material. An elasticity model of the weld joint was established to help understand the mechanical behavior of the joints. An undermatched joint design is shown to be capable of achieving a joint strength that matches the strength of the base alloy.     

异种搅拌摩擦焊接AA2024-7075接头沿厚度方向上的电子背散射衍射分析

本研究以5mm厚的AA2024-T351和AA7075-T651铝合金板材进行搅拌摩擦对接焊,研究了异种铝合金搅拌摩擦焊AA2024-7075接头焊核区沿厚度方向的微观组织演化。研究结果表明：焊核区的晶粒尺寸从焊缝顶部到底部依次降低。轴肩区和焊缝底部区域的再结晶组分低于焊缝中心区。焊核区形成了简单的剪切织构且织构分布并不均匀。轴肩区主要是B 和?B织构组分,而底部区域主要是A 和?A织构组分,C织构组分则出现在中心区域。中心区域的织构强度低于焊核顶部和底部区域,这主要是由于该区域出现了洋葱环,是材料混合区域,使得晶粒取向更为随机。