• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 1997

Spot welding is one of the important welding processes for the construction of thin metal sheet. Because of low investment cost, alternating welding current is widely applied for power source. Direct current type could be, however, recommened for high quality weldment. In this study, the effect of welding current type on the weldability and the electrode life in spot welding of aluminium alloy were investigated. Various welding tests were done by using three phase direct and alternating welding current, respectively. In spite of high variation of welding force, weld quality and electrode life with alternating welding current were shown better results than those with direct current for 2mm thick alumininum alloy sheets. This was due to excessive erosion of the positive electrode in direct welding current compared with the negative one. On the contrary to 2mm sheets, the welding parameters of alternating current for 1mm sheets must be carefully selected.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.92-103
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to improve the wear resistance and hardness of Al alloy by making a formation of the thick surface hardening layers. The thick surface hardening layers were formed by PTAW(Plasma Transferred Arc Welding), with the addition of metal powders (Cu), ceramics powders (NbC, TiC), and mixture powders (Cu+NbC) in Al alloy (A1050, A5083). Mechanical properties of overlaid layers (wear resistance, hardness) were investigated in relation to the microstructure. The results obtained are summarized as follows: The depth of penetration was increased with increasing powder feeding rate. It is considered that these increase were due to the thermal pinch effect by the addition of powders, especially, for the Cu powders, were due to the heat of reaction with the matrix. The hardness and wear resistance of overlaid layers were improved with increasing powder feeding rate. For the Cu powders, it is considered that these increase were due to the increase of the formation of ${\theta}(CuAl_2)$ phase with increasing feeding rate of Cu powers.