Effect of Laser Power on Microstructure and Micro-Galvanic Corrosion Behavior of a 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Welding Joints

• Main Authors: Huiling Zhou, Fanglian Fu, Zhixin Dai, Yanxin Qiao, Jian Chen, Wen Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: 6061 aluminum alloy; welding; micro-galvanic corrosion; intermetallic particles
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/1/3

The 6061-T6 aluminum alloy welding joints were fabricated using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of various laser powers, and the effect of laser power on the microstructure evolution of the welding joints was investigated. The corrosion behaviors of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy welding joints were investigated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the micro-galvanic corrosion initiation from Mg₂Si or around the intermetallic particles (Al-Fe-Si) is observed after the immersion test due to the inhomogeneous nature of the microstructure. The preferential dissolution of the Mg₂Si and Al-Fe-Si is believed to be the possible cause of pitting corrosion. When the laser power reached 5 kW, the microstructure of the welded joint mainly consisted of Al-Fe-Si rather than the Mg₂Si at 2 kW. The relatively higher content of Al-Fe-Si with increasing in laser power would increase the volume of corrosion pits.