A liquation cracking mechanism of dissimilar Al alloys during the friction stir welding (FSW) is suggested in this study. To identify the mechanism, the precipitates were analyzed and Al-Mg-Cu phase diagrams were calculated. Electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) analysis and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) were also conducted. In the same manner as constitutional liquation, at high hea...

The causes of liquation cracking in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a cast Mar-M004 superalloy weld were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were applied to identify the final microconstituents at the solidification boundaries of the cast alloy. Fine borides and lamellar eutectics were present in front of some γ...

The damaged K465 nickel-based superalloy parts were repaired by laser forming repair technology. The cracking characteristics and grain boundary liquation in heat affected zones were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the cracks originated from the heat-affected zone and extended to the repai...

The weldability of GTD-111 nickel-based superalloy by pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding with an average power of 250 W was studied, and the microstructural evolution and cracking characteristics were also investigated. The solidification cracking of the fusion zone (FZ) and the intergranular liquation cracking in the heat affected zone (HAZ) were observed in the joint. Solidification cracking was cau...

Grain refinement via semi-solid deformation is desired to obtain superior mechanical properties of cast components. Using quantitative in situ synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy, we show an additional mechanism for the reduction of grain size, via liquation assisted transgranular cracking of semi-solid globular microstructures. Here we perform localized indentation of Al-15wt.%Cu globular...

A two-dimensional thermal elasto-plastic numerical model is developed by finite element method to analyze and compare the mechanical driving factor for heat affected zone (HAZ) liquation cracking during laser welding and hybrid laser-arc welding techniques. Calculations of transient temperatures and cooling rates are used in conjunction with solidification theory to analyze weld pool characteri...

Plates of 3–5 mm in thickness were extracted from an AZ91D ingot and then butt joints of the plates were produced using tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding method. The TIG arc was also used to deposit welding beads on some of the thin plates. No cracking was found in the butt joints. However, hot cracking was always observed to propagate from the heat affected zone (HAZ) under the welding bead int...

Cracking is a major concern in welding aluminum alloys. Although weld solidification cracks can be eliminated through addition of filler alloy, the additives modify the alloy or base-metal constituents and may not always be desirable. High-energy beam processes, such as electron-beam welding, that result in minimal heat input reduce crack sensitivity, but their high cost limits their applicatio...