Method for producing a welded joint

Abstract

A method for producing a welded joint between a high-strength aluminum alloy with a copper proportion as a first metal and a second metal, in which the welded joint is produced by CMT welding.

Claims

1. A method for producing a joint, the method comprising: providing a high-strength aluminum alloy with a copper proportion as a first metal, wherein the first metal comprises a 7075 aluminum alloy; providing a second metal; producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal via inert gas welding, wherein producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal comprises conducting cold metal transfer welding using a welding wire comprising an aluminum alloy having alloying proportions of Si<0.5%, Fe<0.7%, Cu<0.2%, Mn 0.2-2%, Mg 1.0-8.0%, Cr<0.4%, Ti<0.3%, Zn<0.4% and Zr 0.01-0.4%.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second metal comprises an aluminum alloy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second metal comprises a high-strength aluminum alloy without a copper proportion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second metal comprises a 7075 aluminum alloy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second metal comprises a 7020 aluminum alloy.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second metal comprises steel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second metal comprises a steel sheet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal comprises conducting cold metal transfer welding using a torch position at a pushing angle in a range of between 5 to 15 degrees.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal comprises conducting cold metal transfer welding using a welding speed in a range of between 0.05 to 1 m/min.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal comprises conducting cold metal transfer welding using a welding wire having a diameter of 1.2 mm.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first metal and the second metal comprises a metal sheet.

12. A method for producing a joint, the method comprising: providing a high-strength aluminum alloy with a copper proportion as a first metal, wherein the first metal comprises a 7020 aluminum alloy; providing a second metal; producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal via inert gas welding, wherein producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal comprises conducting cold metal transfer welding using a welding wire comprising an aluminum alloy having alloying proportions of 0.2-2.0% Mn and 0.01-0.8% Zr.

13. A method for producing a joint, the method comprising: providing a high-strength aluminum alloy with a copper proportion as a first metal, wherein the first metal comprises a 7020 aluminum alloy; providing a second metal; producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal via inert gas welding, wherein producing a welded joint between the first metal and the second metal comprises conducting cold metal transfer welding using a welding wire comprising an aluminum allow having alloying proportions of Si 0.2%, Fe 0.35%, Cu 0.02%, Mn 1.5%, Mg 5.5%, Cr 0.15%, Ti 0.1%, Zn 0.2% and Zr 0.25%.

Description

DESCRIPTION

(1) In accordance with embodiments, the high-strength aluminium alloy with the copper proportion may comprise a 7075 aluminium alloy, as a result of which the otherwise favorable properties of this alloy may be utilized for components which are nevertheless easy to weld. In accordance with embodiments, the high-strength aluminium alloy of the first metal may also be a 7020 aluminium alloy.

(2) The second metal may be an aluminium alloy, and in particular, the second metal may also be a high-strength aluminium alloy without a copper proportion. In accordance with embodiments, the second metal may comprise a 7075 aluminium alloy or a 7020 aluminium alloy. The second metal may also be a steel sheet, and therefore a joint in accordance with embodiments may be produced, for example, between an aluminium alloy from the 7075 group and a steel sheet. To this end, the steel sheet may be commonly galvanized beforehand.

(3) In order to achieve the best welding results, a welding wire which comprises an aluminium alloy having the alloying proportions Mn 0.2-2% and Zr 0.01-0.8% may be used for the CMT welding. It particularly, the aluminium alloy of the welding wire may comprise the alloying proportions Si<0.5%, Fe<0.7%, Cu<0.2%, Mn 0.2-2%, Mg 1.0-8.0%, Cr<0.4%, Ti<0.3%, Zn<0.4%, Zr 0.01-0.4%.

(4) A CMT welding machine having a torch position at a pushing angle in a range of between of 5 to 15 degrees may be used for the CMT welding. A welding speed in a range of between of 0.05 to 1 m/min may be used for the CMT welding.

(5) The first metal and/or the second metal may be a metal sheet, in particular, with a metal sheet thickness of approximately max. 4 mm. Metal sheet is understood here to mean components which extend areally but have substantially the same thickness. In accordance with embodiments, areal blanks made of 7075 material, similar to sheet-metal plates, may be welded together with 7075 or 7020 or other aluminium alloys or steel sheets as the second metal and then shaped in order to obtain a structural component, in particular for vehicle construction.

(6) A welding wire having a diameter of 1.2 mm may be used for the CMT welding. A welding wire which comprises an aluminium alloy having the alloying proportions Si 0.2%, Fe 0.35%, Cu 0.02%, Mn 1.5%, Mg 5.5%, Cr 0.15%, Ti 0.1%, Zn 0.2%, Zr 0.25% may be used for the CMT welding.

(7) Embodiments make it possible to produce a welded joint between a high-strength aluminium alloy with a copper proportion as a first metal and a second metal in a simple and reliable manner.

(8) The term coupled or connected may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

(9) Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims