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Microstructure and interfacial behavior of SiCp/6061 aluminum matrix composite joined by laser welding with filled TixSi powder

  • Process-Structure-Property Relationship of Lightweight Materials
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Abstract

SiCp/Al matrix composites exhibit excellent thermal and mechanical properties, making them highly desirable in aerospace, automobile, and electronics industries. However, a drawback arises during the welding process, wherein the brittle Al4C3 compound tends to form in the weld joint of SiCp/Al matrix composites, leading to a significantly diminishes the toughness and strength. To mitigate the issue of brittle Al4C3 formation in the weld joint, laser welding with TixSi powders as a filler was employed. The microstructure, interfacial behavior and microhardness of the SiCp/Al matrix composites in the weld joint were characterized. The results reveal that the weld beads are smooth and uniform, with no observed pores, cracks, sparks, or other defects. Within the weld joint, there are TiC particles and bulk Al3Ti present, and notably, no needlelike Al4C3 phase is found in the zone. As the Ti/Si molar ratio of the mixed powder TixSi increases, the number and volume of the bulk phase reach a peak value at the molar ratio of 3:1 (Ti3Si). The weld interface zone consists of five layers: a serration-shaped layer near the base materials, a layer with white particles, a layer with white slender reticular structures, and chrysanthemum-like structures. Additionally, numerous white particles form around the SiC particles in the interface zone. The microhardness value of the weld joint initially decreases and then increases with the increase in the Ti/Si molar ratio of the TixSi filler powder, and the minimum microhardness value is about 148.6 HV for the Ti2Si.

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Data and code availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China grant no 51965022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Performance Monitoring and Protecting of Rail Transit Infrastructure, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, People’s Republic of China

    Shufang Zhang, Longzhi Zhao, Mingjuan Zhao & Dejia Liu

  2. School of Material Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, People’s Republic of China

    Shufang Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory of Vehicle and Equipment of Education Ministry, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, 330013, People’s Republic of China

    Longzhi Zhao

  4. Department of Mechanical & Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410006, People’s Republic of China

    Lijun Song

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  1. Shufang Zhang
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  2. Longzhi Zhao
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Contributions

Shufang Zhang contributed to manuscript composition and experiment, Longzhi Zhao was involved in experimental design and writing—reviewing and editing, Mingjuan Zhao was responsible for resources and data curation, Dejia Liu took part in writing—reviewing and editing, and Lijun Song helped with resources. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shufang Zhang or Longzhi Zhao.

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Handling Editor: M. Grant Norton.

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Zhang, S., Zhao, L., Zhao, M. et al. Microstructure and interfacial behavior of SiCp/6061 aluminum matrix composite joined by laser welding with filled TixSi powder. J Mater Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-09770-7

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