How to Weld Aluminum | Aluminium Welding machine (MIG and TIG)

TOPWELL | Welding Machines and Equipment | HIGH PERFORMANCE CUTTING

Help

Language:

English

ALUMINUM WELDING

STABLE CONNECTIONS, LIGHTWEIGHT

Home / ALUMINUM

CHALLENGE
BASIC KNOWLEDGE
PREPARATION
PROS AND CONS
WELDING PROCESS
APPLICATIONS
Contact

CHALLENGE OF ALUMINUM WELDING

· Alongside steel, aluminum is the most widely used construction material.
· Its biggest advantage is that it is just as strong but only around half as heavy.
· The use of aluminum is therefore preferred for lightweight constructions.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ALUMINUM

Pure aluminum (Al99.5) is not very strong. However, it is used as the basis for alloys with a strength that matches up to steel.

Welding aluminum is particularly difficult because the material is surrounded by an oxide layer. This only melts at around 2015 degrees Celsius, while aluminum itself melts at around 650 degrees depending on the alloy. If the oxide layer were to be melted in the conventional manner then the aluminum would run away, and welding would be impossible. It is therefore necessary to destroy or displace the oxide.

The properties of pure aluminum can be changed using alloys. For example, adding magnesium considerably increases the strength of the material.

The most important components of aluminum alloys and their properties are:

Magnesium (Mg) 0.3–7% higher strength, finer grain size
Manganese (Mn) 0.3–1.2% better corrosion resistance, higher strength
Copper (Cu) roughly 5% higher strength, lower corrosion resistance, important for hardening capacity
Silicon (Si) 12% for casting, reduces the melting point to 577°C, however with coarse grains