| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 AWS Professional Program
|
| Symposium
|
2023 AWS Professional Program
|
| Presentation Title |
Investigation of Intermetallic Phase Formation during RSW of Advanced Automotive Steels and Aluminum Alloys |
| Author(s) |
Liya Amanuel, Bryan Lara, Antonio J. Ramirez |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Liya Amanuel |
| Abstract Scope |
Resistance spot welding (RSW) is the main joining process chosen by the automotive industry. This is due to advantages related to its ability to be automated and its overall increased efficiency. This is significant for the construction of automotive structures as they can require thousands of spot welds. A current main interest for the automotive industry is to achieve vehicle light weighting. By achieving the creation of body-in-white designs that are lightweight, improvements related to reducing the energy consumption of automotive vehicles can be made. This must be done in a way that also ensures that these structures withstand necessary safety criteria. When considering the interests of the automotive industry, the implementation of advanced materials such as advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) and aluminum alloys is of great interest. AHSS are known for their increased strength while maintaining ductility. And due to their significant strength advantages, thinner gauge sheets can be used leading to the light weighting of vehicle structures. Additionally, aluminum alloys allow for improved light weighting and strength in these automotive designs.
Even with these listed advantages, the RSW of these materials comes with specific challenges. When welding a dissimilar material combination (Al-AHSS), the formation of brittle intermetallics occurs. The formation of these intermetallic phases can be attributed to the limited solubility of Fe in Al leading to the formation of FeAl3 and Fe2Al5. This can be detrimental to the integrity of the weld and have poor effects on joint performance. The work in this study aims to use a well-informed scientific approach that selects specific interlayers that increase the weld quality for these typically hard-to-weld materials. The effect of interlayer application was also explored by comparing various advanced technologies, such as ultrasonic metal welding and laser powder bed fusion, to the direct placement of the interlayer prior to resistance spot welding. By investigating the application of an interlayer prior to RSW, findings show that the introduction of a stainless steel interlayer reduces the intermetallic layer improving the overall weld performance of these joints. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |