Effect of Fiber Laser–MIG Hybrid Process Parameters on Weld Bead Shape and Tensile Properties of Commercially Pure Titanium

Abstract

A series of fiber laser–metal inert gas (MIG) hybrid welding experiments were carried out on the commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) sheets to investigate the effects of the welding parameters, such as MIG welding current, welding speed, laser-arc distance, defocused distance of laser beam and gap, on the bead appearance, weld shape, and tensile properties of the welded joints. The results show that fiber laser–MIG hybrid process parameters were of considerable importance for the bead appearance, weld width, and elongation of the welded joints. However, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the welded joints in CP-Ti was not obviously influenced by the process parameters owing to a higher microhardness in the fusion zone compared to the base metal.

Keywords:

• Arc
• Fiber
• Hybrid
• Laser
• Parameter
• Strength
• Titanium
• Weld

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors appreciate the support of the industrial partners in the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center, Daido Steel Co., Ltd., Japan. The authors are also grateful to Professor Kutusna Muneharu for his kind direction during conducting this work. In addition, Professor Guojian Xu and Dr. Zhongjie Liu are very much appreciated and acknowledged for valuable suggestions and technical support.