Character of melting and evaporation in laser beam welding of two aluminum alloys

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997 · Welding Journal

OSTI ID:471149

Xijing, W ^[1]; Katayama, S; Matsunawa, A ^[2]

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1. Gansu Univ. of Technology (China)
2. Osaka Univ. (Japan)

The phenomenon of evaporation within the keyhole during laser beam welding of aluminum Alloys A5052 and A5083 was investigated under different welding conditions. The character of the molten pool was compared and analyzed. It was found that the evaporation of the main alloying element for these alloys, magnesium, greatly influenced the reaction force induced between the metal vapor and thermal plasma, which in turn affected the degree of penetration. The results of these experiments also confirmed that increasing shielding gas flow rate, within a limit, and a light increase in the entrance angle of the laser beam improved meltability and increased penetration depth. Surface preparation was also observed to improve beam absorption and increase penetration.

• OSTI ID: 471149
• Journal Information: Welding Journal, Vol. 76, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
LASER WELDING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EVAPORATION
MELTING