Recent developments in arc welding with shielding gas of aluminium and its alloys

Summary

Aluminium and its alloys are frequently used in many sectors of industry. Arc welding should adapt to these metals, particularly with regard to productivity and quality. Optimisation of recent innovations are presented here.

In order to adapt to the technological developments of the various sectors of the transport industry (automotive, rail, shipbuilding, aircraft and aerospace), the electricity industry, and the chemical and food‐processing industries, welding processes must also adapt to light metals (aluminium and its alloys) in terms of the productivity and quality required by these industrial sectors.

Recent developments (refinements and innovations) in welding processes, notably MIG welding (dual‐wire welding, modulated spray MIG welding) due to a global approach (procedure, consumables, gas) enable useful alternative solutions to be found for the usual applications of the process.