A COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BUTT WELDED JOINTS OF DISSIMILAR ALUMINIUM ALLOYS AA 2024-T351 AND AA 6082-T6 OBTAINED BY MIG AND TIG WELDING
This paper aims to compare the mechanical and structural properties of butt-welded properties of dissimilar aluminum alloys 2024-T351 and AA 6082-T6 obtained by MIG and TIG welding processes. Alloy AA 6082 T6 is well weldable by classic fusion welding processes (MIG and TIG), while alloy 2024-T351 is almost non-weldable. For the welding of these two different Al alloys, MIG and TIG welding procedures were used on 8 mm thick sheet metal using additional material 4043A (AlSi5) and a mixture of argon and helium as a protective gas for the MIG welding process, or pure argon for the TIG welding process. The paper compares the mechanical properties of welded joints obtained by MIG and TIG welding. The microstructural evolution of the welded joint of dissimilar aluminum alloys AA6082-T6 and AA2024-T351 is compared. The mechanical properties of welded joints of dissimilar aluminum alloys are compared based on the results of Vickers hardness tests, tensile and bending tests of welded samples.