MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AA5754 SHEETS WELDED BY COLD METAL TRANSFER METHOD

Abstract

Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) is a modified gas metal arc welding method. This method is different from conventional gas metal arc welding methods. In this process the heat input and the formation of spatter are reduced with the control of the wire movement and arc. So, CMT welding became indispensable in the welding of thin sheets. The importance of lightweight structures in vehicles is increasing day by day, so the use of thin sheet aluminum alloys such as AA5754 is becoming increasingly widespread. In present study, 2mm thick AA5754 sheets were joined with cold metal transfer welding using ER5356 (AlMg5) filler wire. The effect of heat input on the weld quality was investigated. Microstructural examinations were executed by optical microscope and SEM. Mechanical properties of joints were determined by tensile and bending tests. It was found that increasing heat input did not have a significant effect on tensile strength of AA5754-AA5754 joints, while it corrupted the bending strength.