Effects of filler wires on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 2195-T6 Al-Li alloy spray formed by TIG welding

Abstract

The main purpose of this work was to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of spray-formed 2195-T6 Al-Li alloy welding joints produced by tungsten inert gas (TIG) with Al-Cu and Al-Si-Cu filler wires, so that they can be better used in space vehicle tanks. The porosity analysis indicates that the porosity area of the weld seam with the Al-Si-Cu filler wire is approximately 7.989 times larger than that of the Al-Cu filler wire. Furthermore, the microstructure and microhardness results indicate that the Al/Cu eutectic near the fusion line distributes more at the grain boundaries, while more dispersed Al2Cu phase is found inside the grain, which improves the strength of the joint when using Al-Cu filler wire. However, when using the Al-Si-Cu filler wire, more Si, Cu, and Ti elements are segregated at the grain boundaries, forming a brittle-hard network Al/Cu/Ti eutectic, which reduces the performance of the joint. Additionally, the tensile strength and elongation of the weld joint are about 68.6% and 89.9% of the base metal (BM) when using the Al-Cu filler wire, and can approach the level of friction stir welding (FSW). However, the tensile strength and elongation are only about 56.8% and 39.9%, respectively, of the BM in the weld joint when using the Al-Si-Cu filler wire. Lastly, the fractures both occur on the fusion line and the fracture morphology of the weld joint shows that it is a mixed fracture mode dominated by plastic fracture when using Al-Cu filler wire, while it is mainly a quasi-cleavage fracture mode when using Al-Si-Cu filler wire. Therefore, the joint strength when using Al-Si-Cu filler wire with high strength matching is not as good as that of Al-Cu filler wire with low strength matching.