Hot cracking in Al–Mg–Si alloy laser welding – operating parameters and their effects

Abstract Hot cracking is a phenomenon that frequently occurs in the laser welding of some “special” alloys, such as the aluminium–magnesium–silicon type. Each occurrence of this phenomenon needs to be studied in itself, taking into account not only the individual, but also the interactive, influences of the various parameters. The advantage of using laser beams in welding processes lies in the speeds that can be reached. The disadvantage, however, is that, owing to the high cooling rates characteristic of the interaction between the laser beam and the material, the welding speed itself becomes a cause of hot cracking. The aim of this paper is to see how this disadvantage may be eliminated. …

Numerical support for laser welding of zinc-coated sheets process development

Abstract A lap welding process for zinc-coated sheets has been developed with the help of numerical simulations. This process has been improved and is now compatible with industrial requirements. The zinc boiling point (1180 K) is lower than the steel melting point (1800 K). Consequently, a violent boiling of zinc in melted steel produces serious defects in the seam. To get round this difficulty, we choose to consider a two-spots process: the first spot vaporizes the zinc coating at the interface; the second one welds the sheets. Previously, we develop a numerical model that permits a process parameters choice and limits the plan of experimentations. The zinc ablation spotlight shape is cho…

Numerical Study of Zinc Coated Car Body Laser Welding

Wavelength influence on nitrogen insertion into titanium by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation in air

Abstract We studied in this work the influence of the wavelength (532 vs. 1064 nm) on the insertion of nitrogen in titanium targets by surface laser treatments in air. The laser pulses were of 5 ns and the irradiance was lower than 25 × 10 12  W/m 2 . Results obtained using a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm were compared with those previously reported for laser treatments at 1064 nm. Nuclear reaction analysis and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used for determining the composition and the structure of the surface layers, respectively. Results showed the lower efficiency of irradiation at 532 nm for nitrogen insertion, which is possible only above threshold conditions depending on bot…

In-situ small-angle x-ray scattering study of nanoparticles in the plasma plume induced by pulsed laser irradiation of metallic targets

Import JabRef; International audience; Small angle x-ray scattering was used to probe in-situ the formation of nanoparticles in the plasma plume generated by pulsed laser irradiation of a titanium metal surface under atmospheric conditions. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized as function of laser irradiance. Two families of nanoparticles were identified with sizes on the order of 10 and 70 nm, respectively. These results were confirmed by ex-situ transmission electron microscopy experiments.

Thermal effects of continuous laser treatment on Ti-6 Al(wt%)-4V(wt%) titanium alloy

A titanium alloy Ti-6 Al(wt%)-4V(wt%) was treated in air by Nd:YAG laser radiation (wavelength of 1.064 %m) in continuous mode. Targets were irradiated globally with different levels of energy (accumulated fluence) at constant power. Different focal lengths and beam displacement velocities were used. Cross section microstructural observations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy. Backscattered electron imaging reveals microstructural modifications in samples. A structural phase transformation of beta (bcc) to alpha prime (hcp) phase was observed. The depth of the transformed zone observed by phase transformation is dependent on the treatment parameters. Conformity between micros…