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Inhibiting weld cracking in high-strength aluminium alloys

Abstract:
Cracking from a fine equiaxed zone (FQZ), often just tens of microns across, plagues the welding of 7000 series aluminum alloys. Using a multiscale correlative methodology, from the millimeter scale to the nanoscale, we shed light on the strengthening mechanisms and the resulting intergranular failure at the FQZ. We show that intergranular AlCuMg phases give rise to cracking by micro-void nucleation and subsequent link-up due to the plastic incompatibility between the hard phases and soft (low precipitate density) grain interiors in the FQZ. To mitigate this, we propose a hybrid welding strategy exploiting laser beam oscillation and a pulsed magnetic field. This achieves a wavy and interrupted FQZ along with a higher precipitate density, thereby considerably increasing tensile strength over conventionally hybrid welded butt joints, and even friction stir welds.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-022-33188-x

Authors


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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-7437-2021
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-7432-4604
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Engineering Science
Oxford college:
Trinity College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-3558-5198


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
13
Issue:
1
Article number:
5816
Publication date:
2022-10-03
Acceptance date:
2022-09-07
DOI:
EISSN:
2041-1723
Pmid:
36192380


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1281678
Local pid:
pubs:1281678
Deposit date:
2022-11-04

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