×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Heat Treatment Effect on Aluminum after Welding

Heat Treatment Effect on Aluminum after Welding

Heat Treatment Effect on Aluminum after Welding

(OP)
Is it uncommon for welded aluminum not to get a post weld heat treatment due to the quick loss of strength shown in Al?  

Could a lack of heat treatment be a cause for weld cracks later in a part's life cycle?

RE: Heat Treatment Effect on Aluminum after Welding

What is the base Al alloy & its initial temper?
What filler alloy?
What welding procedure?
I don't think it is common at all for aluminum welds to receive PWHT.

Many aluminum alloys (3003, 5052) are basically work hardened -- any heat input tends to anneal them.

Heat treatable alloys (2024, 6061, 7075, etc.) are nearly annealed at the weld. More heating spreads the weakness.  Unless you can heat the entire structure to 900 F (solutionize), water quench & then re-age harden at 320 F, forget it.

Cracks may be due to wrong filler alloy, poor weld design, contamination or many other things.

Some sites with info on aluminum welding:
http://www.alcotec.com/
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowledge/articles/content/alum.asp
http://www.thefabricator.com/AluminumWelding/AluminumWelding_TechCell.cfm
http://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/consumables/alumfillerchart.asp
http://www.welding-advisers.com/PRACTICAL_WELDING_LETTER-PracticalWeldingLetterNo41B.html

There is perhaps a trend toward low heat input, autogenous, laser welding to minimize effects of the welding. Also, friction welding.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources