An Evaluation on the Weldability of Al-Li Alloys by Varestraint Testing Method

Varestraint Test법에 의한 Al-Li합금의 용접성 평가

The weldability of high purity aluminum-lithium binary alloys has been investigated using the Varestraint test. Autogenous GTAW (gas-tungsten-arc-welds) were run along specimens of different lithium concentration using three sets of welding parameters. Welding voltage was held constant at 10 volts. Welding current (70∼100 amps) and travel speed (23∼33 cm/min) were the parameter varied. Hot-tearing susceptibility varied with lithium content and exhibited a steep peak at 2.6 weight percent lithium. Depth of penetration increased with increasing heat input and lithium concentration. The susceptibility is influenced by the wettability of dendrites by the interdendritic eutectic liquid as well as the time available for back-Siting by eutectic liquid. The welding condition of welding current 70A and travel speed 23 cm/min was showed good resistance to cracking in aluminum-lithium alloys. Suggestions for improving weld cracking resistance are also provided.