Effects of post heat treatment on 5052AL and 6063 aluminium joints during pulsed electric current bonding

In a previous study, the effects of the bonding conditions (bonding temperature, pressure, surface roughness, interlayer and electric current wave) on joint efficiency were investigated using 5052Al and 6063Al joints during pulsed electric current bonding. The results were found as follows. The surface roughness and current waveform (direct current, duty ratio and pulsed frequency) show no effect on the joint strength. With an increase in the bonding temperature and pressure, the deformation of the joints increase. The bonding temperature and pressure have to be selected in way to prevent significant deformation of the joint configuration. In the current study, the effect of the post heat treatment on the joints is under investigation to improve the joint strength of 5052Al and 6063Al. Post heat treatments the 5052Al and 6063Al joints improve the strength of both of them. The effect of the post heat treatment on the 6063Al joint is larger than the effect on the 5052Al joint. Post heat treatment performed on the joints promoted a Mg reduction mechanism by Al alloys to remove an oxide film at the bond interface. Based on the tensile properties and the microstructure of the joints, an optimum amount of Mg is added in order to improve the joint properties of the Al alloy, which was determined to be 0.3-1 mass percentage. Using a solution and ageing heat treatment, the joint properties of 6063Al equal the joint properties of a base metal. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.