Arc Welding of Zinc Coated High Strength Steels

Abstract

In the automotive industry advanced high strength steels (for example: DP, CP, TRIP, TWIP) are used for different applications on the body or on the chassis. The most commonly used jointing technologies in the automotive production are the arc welding processes. By using conventional welding technologies problems can occur. Using conventional welding on coated (galvanized) plates usually damages the coating. The consequence of this damage will be corrosion and extra maintenance costs. To solve this problem low heat-input process variants can be applied. They can be e.g. Cold-Arc, SpeedARC, forceArc, CMT, Cold Weld, microMIG, microMIG-cc, and other advanced welding processes. These are controlled short circuit material transition processes. We investigated the Cold Weld, microMIG and microMIG-cc processes when welding zinc coated high strength steel plates. The microMIG-cc and Cold Weld processes were found well applicable for the coated plates. This paper describes those welding possibilities of these plates which will not be damaged the coating on the other side of the weld.