Influence of Shielding Gas on Aluminum Alloy 5083 in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

Abstract

The influence of shielding gas parameter was affect to mechanical properties and microstructures of heat-affected zone and fusion zone on gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) in aluminium alloy AA 5083. The factorial experiment was designed for this research. The factors of AA 5083 weld used in the study types of shielding gas in argon and helium, gas flow rate at 6, 10 and 14 litres per minute. Then the results were using microstructure and vickers hardness test. The result showed that types of shielding gas and gas flow rate interaction hardness at heat-affected zone and fusion zone with a P–value < .05. The factor which was the most effective to the hardness at heat-affected zone and fusion zone was argon with a flow rate of 14 litres per minute at heat-affected zone with 74.27 HV and fusion zone with 68.97 HV. The helium was high thermal conductivity, resulting in a large amount of heat. The grain size was grain growth in larger grain size. This can result in decreased of hardness. Experimental results showed that the argon condition provided smaller grain size, suitable size resulting in higher hardness both in weld metal and HAZ. This research can be used for data on considering on gas tungsten arc welding of aluminium alloy 5083.