Download Welding Aluminum with a Cored Wire

Welding Aluminum with Cored Wires
S. Baumgartner1, 2, G. Posch3, H. Cerjak2
Materials Center Leoben (MCL), Franz-Josef Straße 13, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
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2
Institute for Material Sciences, Welding and Forming, Graz University of Technology
Kopernikusgasse 24, A-8010 Graz, Austria, [email protected]
Böhler Schweißtechnik Austria GesmbH, Böhler-Welding-St. 1, A-8605 Kapfenberg, Austria
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Abstract
Cored wires are mainly used for GMAW of steel and nickel-base alloys. They offer lots of
advantages compared to solid wires such as higher deposition rates, less spatter, improved
penetration behavior and a reduced risk of lack of fusion defects. As the composition of the
core can be varied easily and also the fabrication of small batches is economic, it is possible
to produce various alloys aligned to the different base metals and such alloys which are not
producible as solid wires. It is obvious to intend to apply these advantages also for welding
aluminum.
One of the main problems of welding aluminum is porosity caused by the decreasing
hydrogen solubility during solidification. The use of fluxes reduces porosity and improves
wettability and weld bead geometry. Using cored wires offers the possibility to put the flux
inside the wire instead of applying it on the base material.
This paper presents the results of bead-to-plate welds performed with different aluminum
cored wires in comparison to solid wire welds. The droplet transfer is recorded with a high
speed camera and the electrical data are measured simultaneously. Weld bead geometry
and the tendency of porosity of cored wires and solid wires are compared with additional
cross sections.