Skip to main content
Log in

Grain refinement in magnetically stirred GTA welds of aluminum alloys

  • Published:
Metallurgical Transactions B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mechanisms of grain refinement have been examined for magnetically stirred gas tungsten arc (GTA) welds completely penetrating thin sheets of several aluminum alloys. Grain refinement in unstirred welds may be brought about by adding sufficient titanium to produce heterogeneous nucleation by Ti-rich particles. In some alloys magnetic stirring is shown to extend the range of welding conditions which produce a partially equiaxed structure, and to widen the equiaxed fraction of partially equiaxed welds. This is attributed to magnetic stirring lowering the temperature gradient, allowing nucleation and growth of Al-rich grains further ahead of the columnar interface growing in from the fusion boundaries. In alloys with low Ti levels, magnetic stirring may cause refinement by sweeping grains from the partially molten zone ahead of the advancing solidification interface. This mechanism requires that the partially molten zone be sufficiently wide, and that the grain size in this zone remain small.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  1. Y. Arata, F. Matsuda, and A. Matsui:Trans. Jpn Weld. Res. Inst., 1974, vol. 3, pp. 89–97.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. T. Ganaha and H. W. Kerr:Metals Technology, 1978, vol. 5, pp. 62–69.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. T. Ganaha, B. P. Pearce, and H. W. Kerr:Metall. Trans. A, 1980, vol. 11A, pp. 1351–59.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. A. Cibula:J. Inst. Metals, 1951-52, vol. 80, pp. 1–16.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Cibula:J. Inst. Metals, 1949, vol. 76, pp. 321–60.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. A. Marcantonio and L. F. Mondolfo:J. Inst. Metals, 1970, vol. 98, pp. 23–27.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G. W. Delamore and R. W. Smith:Metall. Trans., 1971, vol. 2, pp. 1733–38.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. L. Backerud:Jernkontorets. Ann., 1971, vol. 155, pp. 422–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. J. Cissé, H. W. Kerr, and G. F. Boiling:Metall. Trans., 1974, vol. 5, pp. 633–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. D. H. St. John and L. M. Hogan:J. Aust. Inst. Metals, 1977, vol. 22, pp. 160–66.

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. J. Cornish:Metal Sci., 1975, vol. 9, pp. 477–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. L. Arnberg, L. Backerud, and H. Klang: inSolidification Technology in the Foundry and Casthouse, Metals Society, London, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  13. F. Matsuda, H. Nakagawa, K. Nakata, and R. Ayani:Trans. Jpn Weld. Res. Inst., 1978, vol. 7, pp. 111–27.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. F. Matsuda, K. Nakata, Y. Miyanaga, T. Kayano, and K. Tsukamoto:Trans. Jpn Weld. Res. Inst., 1978, vol. 7, pp. 181–93.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. V. P. Chernysh and V. A. Pakhareako:Auto. Weld., 1979, no. 5, pp. 12–14.

  16. V. S. Gvozdetskii and V. S. Mechev:Auto. Weld., 1963, no. 12, pp. 1–5.

  17. W. H. S. Lawson and H. W. Kerr:Weld. Res. Intl., 1976, vol. 6, no. 6, pp. 73–77 and 6, no. 6, pp. 1-17.

    Google Scholar 

  18. T. Ganaha and H. W. Kerr:Metall. Trans. B, 1978, vol. 9B, pp. 313–16.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. J. P. Sadocha and H. W. Kerr:Met. Sci. J., 1973, vol. 7, pp. 138–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pearce, B.P., Kerr, H.W. Grain refinement in magnetically stirred GTA welds of aluminum alloys. Metall Trans B 12, 479–486 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02654317

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02654317

Keywords

Navigation