Gas-tungsten arc welding of aluminum alloys

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:865261

Frye, Lowell D ^[1]

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1. Kingston, TN

A gas-tungsten arc welding method for joining together structures formed of aluminum alloy with these structures disposed contiguously to a heat-damagable substrate of a metal dissimilar to the aluminum alloy. The method of the present invention is practiced by diamond machining the fay surfaces of the aluminum alloy structures to provide a mirror finish thereon having a surface roughness in the order of about one microinch. The fay surfaces are aligned and heated sufficiently by the tungsten electrode to fuse the aluminum alloy contiguous to the fay surfaces to effect the weld joint. The heat input used to provide an oxide-free weld is significantly less than that required if the fay surfaces were prepared by using conventional chemical and mechanical practices.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4484060
• OSTI ID: 865261
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

gas-tungsten
welding
aluminum
alloys
method
joining
structures
formed
alloy
disposed
contiguously
heat-damagable
substrate
metal
dissimilar
practiced
diamond
machining
fay
surfaces
provide
mirror
finish
thereon
surface
roughness
microinch
aligned
heated
sufficiently
tungsten
electrode
fuse
contiguous
effect
weld
joint
heat
input
oxide-free
significantly
required
prepared
conventional
chemical
mechanical
practices
weld joint
structures formed
tungsten electrode
aluminum alloy
surface roughness
aluminum alloys
heat input
heated sufficiently
conventional chemical
diamond machining
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