Mechanical properties and microstructures of a magnesium alloy gas tungsten arc welded with a cadmium chloride flux

Journal Article · Tue Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Materials Characterization

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2006.10.012· OSTI ID:21062180

Zhang, Z D ^[1]; Shen, Y; Wang, L ^[1]

---

1. State Key Laboratory of Material Surface Modification by Laser, Ion, and Beams, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024 (China)

Gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds were prepared on 5-mm thick plates of wrought magnesium AZ31B alloy, using an activated flux. The microstructural characteristics of the weld joint were investigated using optical and scanning microscopy, and the fusion zone microstructure was compared with that of the base metal. The elemental distribution was also investigated by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Mechanical properties were determined by standard tensile tests on small-scale specimens. The as-welded fusion zone prepared using a CdCl{sub 2} flux exhibited a larger grain size than that prepared without flux; the microstructure consisted of matrix {alpha}-Mg, eutectic {alpha}-Mg and {beta}-Al{sub 12}Mg{sub 17}. The HAZ was observed to be slightly wider for the weld prepared with a CdCl{sub 2} flux compared to that prepared without flux; thus the tensile strength was lower for the flux-prepared weld. The fact that neither Cd nor Cl was detected in the weld seam by EPMA indicates that the CdCl{sub 2} flux has a small effect on convection in the weld pool.

• OSTI ID: 21062180
• Journal Information: Materials Characterization, Journal Name: Materials Characterization Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 59; ISSN 1044-5803; ISSN MACHEX
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CADMIUM CHLORIDES
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
EUTECTICS
GAS TUNGSTEN-ARC WELDING
GRAIN SIZE
HEAT AFFECTED ZONE
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
MICROSCOPY
TENSILE PROPERTIES
WELDED JOINTS