Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cold Metal Transfer Welded AA6013/SiC Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of varying heat input, achieved through changes in welding current, on the strength of cast composites. Three AA6013 matrix composites (AMCs) of varying SiC content (3, 6, and 9 wt.%) were prepared using the vortex-route method, with dimensions of 250x110x60 mm. Subsequently, the cast composites were sliced into 3.5x100x50 mm dimensions for butt welding. Welding operations were conducted at current intensities of 110 A, 120 A, and 130 A via the cold metal transfer (CMT) welding method. The microstructures and tensile strength of the welded composites were thoroughly analysed. Results indicated that an increase in heat input led to a decrease in the strength values of welded composites by up to 10%. Furthermore, a notable enhancement in the mechanical properties of the reinforced composites, ranging from 19% to 32%, was observed when compared to the unreinforced alloy. In conclusion, the CMT method, which provides relatively less heat input compared to other welding methods, enables the welding of AMCs to achieve superior mechanical properties while maintaining a low reinforcement ratio.

Keywords

• Composite
• Welding
• Cold Metal Transfer
• Metal Matrix Composite
• Heat Input

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