Microstructures and mechanical properties of laser offset welded 5052 aluminum to press-hardened steel

Xiaobing Cao; Xiongfeng Zhou; Haoran Wang; Zhi Luo; Ji'an Duan

Journal of Materials Research and Technology (May 2020)

Microstructures and mechanical properties of laser offset welded 5052 aluminum to press-hardened steel

Xiaobing Cao,
Xiongfeng Zhou,
Haoran Wang,
Zhi Luo,
Ji'an Duan

Affiliations

Xiaobing Cao: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
Xiongfeng Zhou: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
Haoran Wang: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
Zhi Luo: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China.
Ji'an Duan: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; Corresponding authors at: State Key Laboratory of High Performance and Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 3
pp. 5378 – 5390

Abstract

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The study to obtain a sound joint between aluminum and steel is rather challenging due to the large mismatch in thermal properties and the formation of brittle IMCs, especially for press-hardened steel attributing to its martensite microstructure. In this present study, dissimilar joining of 5052 aluminum and press-hardened steel was comprehensively explored by employing laser offset welding without any fillers and interlayers. The influence of laser offset on welding appearance and mechanical properties was evaluated. The microstructure analysis, bonding mechanism, and fracture behavior were identified and characterized by means of optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The satisfactory welding appearance and mechanical property of 129.6 MPa was obtained at the laser offset of 0.2 mm. The interface microstructure was composed of continuous Fe2Al5, acicular Fe4Al13 and islands IMCs. In addition, micro cracks could be initiated spontaneously in Fe2Al5 layer due to the residual stress, whereas a consecutive crack seems be induced by a micro pore defect. No matter what the fracture mode was during tensile test, the fracture surface was localized at the welded interface.

Published in Journal of Materials Research and Technology

ISSN: 2238-7854 (Print); 2214-0697 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Mining engineering. Metallurgy
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-materials-research-and-technology/

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