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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Laser-Welded and Diode-Laser-Welded AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

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Abstract

The microstructures, tensile properties, strain hardening, and fatigue strength of fiber-laser-welded (FLW) and diode-laser-welded (DLW) AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloys were studied. Columnar dendrites near the fusion zone (FZ) boundary and equiaxed dendrites at the center of FZ, with divorced eutectic β-Mg17Al12 particles, were observed. The FLW joints had smaller dendrite cell sizes with a narrower FZ than the DLW joints. The heat-affected zone consisted of recrystallized grains. Although the DLW joints fractured at the center of FZ and exhibited lower yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and fatigue strength, the FLW joints failed at the fusion boundary and displayed only moderate reduction in the YS, UTS, and fatigue strength with a joint efficiency of ~91 pct. After welding, the strain rate sensitivity basically vanished, and the DLW joints exhibited higher strain-hardening capacity. Stage III hardening occurred after yielding in both base metal (BM) and welded samples. Dimple-like ductile fracture characteristics appeared in the BM, whereas some cleavage-like flat facets together with dimples and river marking were observed in the welded samples. Fatigue crack initiated from the specimen surface or near-surface defects, and crack propagation was characterized by the formation of fatigue striations along with secondary cracks.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and AUTO21 Network of Centers of Excellence for providing financial support. This investigation involves part of Canada-China-USA Collaborative Research Project on the Magnesium Front End Research and Development (MFERD). The authors also thank the General Motors Research and Development Center for the supply of test materials, and IPG Photonics Applications Lab, Novi, MI for making and supplying the fiber laser-welded joints. One author (D.L. Chen) is grateful for the financial support by the Premier’s Research Excellence Award (PREA), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and Ryerson Research Chair (RRC) program. The assistance of Q. Li, A. Machin, J. Amankrah, D. Ostrom, and R. Churaman (Ryerson University) in performing the experiments is acknowledged gratefully. The authors also thank Dr. X. Cao, Dr. S. Xu, Dr. K. Sadayappan, Dr. J. Jackman, Professor N. Atalla, Professor S. Lambert, Professor H. Jahed, Professor Y.S. Yang, Professor M.F. Horstemeyer, Professor B. Jordon, Dr. A.A. Luo, Mr. R. Osborne, Mr. J.F. Quinn, Dr. J. Allison, Dr. X.M. Su, and Mr. L. Zhang for the helpful discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada

    S. M. Chowdhury (Graduate Student), D. L. Chen (Professor and Ryerson Research Chair) & S. D. Bhole (Professor)

  2. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

    E. Powidajko (Graduate Student), D. C. Weckman (Professor) & Y. Zhou (Professor, Canada Research Chair)

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  1. S. M. Chowdhury
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Correspondence to D. L. Chen.

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Manuscript submitted August 2, 2010.

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Chowdhury, S.M., Chen, D.L., Bhole, S.D. et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Laser-Welded and Diode-Laser-Welded AZ31 Magnesium Alloy. Metall Mater Trans A 42, 1974–1989 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-010-0574-y

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