MODIFICATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF LASER WELDS IN ELECTROGALVANIZED STEEL AND THE EFFECT ON CORROSION PROPERTIES

Compositional modification of the weld metal during laser welding of electrogalvanized steel sheet was achieved by the injection of metal powder or by a technique in which zinc that had been volatilized as a result of the welding operation was redeposited on the weld bead. Corrosion testing by means of the linear polarization technique showed that the coating corrosion rate in the case of laser welds containing redeposited zinc was substantially lower for an initial period than for normal laser welds. Only a small decrease in corrosion rate was achieved by the injection of tool steel powder during laser welding while an increase in coating corrosion rate was produced by the injection of nickel powder or stainless steel powder