Metallurgical characterization of the 5083H116 aluminum alloy welded with the cold metal transfer process and two different wire-electrodes (5183 and 5087)

Abstract

Aluminum-magnesium alloys have great prominence in the naval sector as they represented structural materials with low specific weight and excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments. Such benefits are also seen in other maritime structures, as oil platforms. Welding is the main manufacturing process in this sector. However, there are substantial technological challenges when welding these alloys. The work undertaken in this paper aimed at the development of welding science and technology in the specific framework of the construction project of an oceanographic sailboat of naval aluminum alloy 5083. This paper presents a technical and scientific contribution for the short-circuiting gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process version designated as cold metal transfer (CMT). As to the CMT mode, work intended to verify the compatibility of existing synergic programs in the welding equipment with the investigated wire-electrodes 5183 and 5087 and perform needed adaptations, as there are no programs designed specifically for these materials. The focus was on obtaining root and fill pass on 6.0-mm-thick plates. The work also examined the influence of this process on metallurgical effects for the distinct wires and compared the properties between them. Welding procedure development and mechanical performance tests, destructive and non-destructive, were conducted. The results show excellent performance of welded joints with both wires, and a slightly higher mechanical performance with 5087 wire-electrode.