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Some Tribological Influences on the Electrode-Worksheet Interface During Resistance Spot Welding of Aluminum Alloys

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An Erratum to this article was published on 04 November 2010

Abstract

In this study, the effect of worksheet surface characteristics on the electrical contact resistance of electrode-worksheet interface during resistance spot welding of aluminum alloy (AA5182) was discussed. The electrical contact resistance was influenced by both the oxide layer and surface roughness of the worksheet. However, the effect of oxide layer was more dominant, and the effect of surface roughness was likely to be linked with the damaging of oxide layer and not the contact area. The oxide layer on AA5182 was non-uniform with Mg-rich small spots dispersed on the surface. Grinding and scratching the worksheet surface was effective in reducing the oxide layer thickness and, hence, reduced the electrical contact resistance. It was observed that the surfaces with higher electrical contact resistances at this interface showed faster pitting rate of electrode. The study also suggested that the static electrical contact resistance measured before resistance spot welding could be useful for predicting materials likely behavior during the actual resistance spot welding process of AA5182.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and AUTO21, a member of the Networks of Center of Excellence (NCE) programs, both established by the Canadian Government. The author would also like to acknowledge Professor Y. Zhou and Professor J. B. Medley for their help to accomplish the research study; both associated with the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CANMET, Materials Technology Laboratory, Natural Resources Canada, 568 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G1, Canada

    M. Rashid

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

    M. Rashid

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  1. M. Rashid
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Correspondence to M. Rashid.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11665-010-9781-3

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Rashid, M. Some Tribological Influences on the Electrode-Worksheet Interface During Resistance Spot Welding of Aluminum Alloys. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 20, 456–462 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-010-9696-z

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