Solidification Cracking Restraining Mechanism of Al-Cu-Mg-Zn Alloy Welds Using Cold Metal Transfer Technique.

Aluminum alloy 7075 (with 7055 and 7150 filler wires) was welded using a digital welding machine that can switch arc mode between MIG, CMT and CMT+P modes. The transverse-motion weldability test of joints welded under different arc modes showed that the solidification cracking susceptibility was lower in CMT-technique-based welds than in MIG welds. The temperature cycle of the welding pool under different arc modes was recorded using mini-thermocouples, which showed that the cooling rate was lower in CMT welded samples than in MIG welded samples. The low cooling rate promoted the growth of α-Al dendrites through the back diffusion effect. Electron probe micro-analysis showed that micro-segregation of the α-Al dendrites was lower in the CMT welded samples than in the MIG welded samples. The T-(fAl)1/2 curve of each weld was calculated, which showed that CMT-based welding enhanced the bridging of adjacent α-Al dendrites, reducing the tendency for solidification cracking.

Comparative Analysis of the Phase Interaction in Plasma Surfaced NiBSi Overlays with IVB and VIB Transition Metal Carbides.

Important applications of transition metal carbides (TMCs) are as wear resistant composite layers deposited by plasma transferred arc welding (PTAW) and laser methods. Growing interest in them has also been observed in additive manufacturing and in HEA technology (bulk composite materials and layers), and in the area of energy conversion and storage. This paper presents the results of comparative studies on interfacial interactions in the NiBSi-TMCs system for two border IVB and VIB TM groups of the periodic table. Model (wettability and spreadability) and application experiments (testing of the PTAW-obtained carbide particle-matrix boundaries) were performed. Fe from partially melted steel substrates is active in the liquid NiBSi-TMCs system. It was revealed that the interaction of TMCs with the liquid NiBSi matrix tends to increase with the group number, and from the top to bottom inside individual groups. Particles of IVB TMCs are decomposed by penetration of the liquid along the grain boundaries, whereas those of VIB are decomposed by solubility in the matrix and secondary crystallization. No transition zones formed at the interfacial boundaries of the matrix-IVB group TMCs, unlike in the case of the VIB group. The experimental results are discussed using the data on the TMC electronic structure and the physicochemical properties.