Effect of Shielding Gas Arc Welding Process on Cavitation Resistance of Welded Joints of AlMg4.5Mn Alloy

Marina Dojčinović; Radica Prokić Cvetković; Aleksandar Sedmak; Olivera Popović; Ivana Cvetković; Dorin Radu

doi:10.3390/ma16134781

Effect of Shielding Gas Arc Welding Process on Cavitation Resistance of Welded Joints of AlMg4.5Mn Alloy

Materials (Basel). 2023 Jul 2;16(13):4781. doi: 10.3390/ma16134781.

Authors

Marina Dojčinović¹, Radica Prokić Cvetković², Aleksandar Sedmak^{2

3}, Olivera Popović², Ivana Cvetković², Dorin Radu³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
² Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Kraljice Marije 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
³ Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brașov, Turnului Street 5, 500152 Brașov, Romania.

Abstract

The effect of the shielding gas arc welding process on the cavitation resistance of the three-component aluminum alloy AlMg4.5Mn and its welded joints was investigated. Welding was performed using the GTAW and GMAW processes in a shielded atmosphere of pure argon. After the welding, metallographic tests were performed, and the hardness distribution in the welded joints was determined. The ultrasonic vibration method was used to evaluate the base metal's and weld metal's resistance to cavitation. The change in mass was monitored to determine the cavitation rates. The morphology of the surface damage of the base metal and weld metal due to cavitation was monitored using scanning electron microscopy to explain the effect of the shielding gas arc welding process on their resistance to cavitation.

Keywords: GMAW; GTAW; aluminum alloys; cavitation rate; weld metal.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Contract Nos. 451-03-68/2023-14/200135, 451-03-68/2023-14/200105, and 451-03-68/2023-14/200213).