Metallurgical and Mechanical Characterization of MIG Welded Repair Joints for 6082-T6 Aluminum Alloy with ER 4043 and ER 5356

In this study, the aluminum alloy 6082-T6 was repaired by metal inert gas (MIG) welding using the alternative fillers ER 4043 and ER 5356. The influences of fillers and repeated heat cycles on the metallurgical and mechanical properties of repair welds were assessed by analyzing macrostructure, microstructure, porosity, tensile, bending and hardness tests. The metallurgical characterization revealed that the microstructure, intermetallic phases and porosity in welded joints before and after repair welding were mainly related to the type of filler and the solidification process. The tensile and yield strengths of the welded joint with ER 4043 filler decreased after repair welding, whereas those with ER 5356 filler were retained. The repair joint made with ER 5356 filler possessed higher tensile strength than that with ER 4043 filler, suggesting that ER 5356 filler should be preferred for the repair welding of aluminum alloy 6082-T6.