Effect of surface treatment on the mechanical properties and microstructures of Al-Fe single-lap joint by magnetic pulse welding

Abstract

Magnetic pulse welding (MPW) has attracted widespread attention due to its advantages on joining dissimilar metals. This paper mainly focused on the effect of surface treatment on the weldability and mechanical properties of Al-Fe joints. Two kinds of surface grinding directions, including parallel to welding direction (P2W) and vertical to welding direction (V2W), were designed to prepare MPW joints. Mechanical properties and interface microstructures were systematically analyzed to establish the corresponding relationship between the two. Results showed V2W welded joints presented a wavy-shape interface and had better mechanical properties. The P2W specimens only showed a straight interface, and the element diffusion in the zone of the wave interface was better than that in the zone of the straight interface. The discharge energies affected mechanical properties by changing the interfacial morphology. In addition, the formed jets could be trapped and led to the formation of interfacial waves when the scratch direction did not coincide with the welding direction, contributing to the formation mechanism of wave interface.