Solidification Cracking Restraining Mechanism of Al-Cu-Mg-Zn Alloy Welds Using Cold Metal Transfer Technique

Aluminum alloy 7075 (with 7055 and 7150 filler wires) was welded using a digital welding machine that can switch arc mode between MIG, CMT and CMT+P modes. The transverse-motion weldability test of joints welded under different arc modes showed that the solidification cracking susceptibility was lower in CMT-technique-based welds than in MIG welds. The temperature cycle of the welding pool under different arc modes was recorded using mini-thermocouples, which showed that the cooling rate was lower in CMT welded samples than in MIG welded samples. The low cooling rate promoted the growth of alpha-Al dendrites through the back diffusion effect. Electron probe micro-analysis showed that micro-segregation of the alpha-Al dendrites was lower in the CMT welded samples than in the MIG welded samples. The T-(f(Al))(1/2) curve of each weld was calculated, which showed that CMT-based welding enhanced the bridging of adjacent alpha-Al dendrites, reducing the tendency for solidification cracking.