CO2 laser welding of 5AO6 aluminum alloy plates with different thicknesses

CO2 laser beam welding of aluminum alloys with different thicknesses was carried out. The influences of laser power and travel speed on the weld width were analyzed. The mechanical characteristics of tailor-welded blanks (TWB) with unequal thickness were evaluated using tensile tests, and the fracture appearance was inspected after tensile tests. The microstructure of welded joints was analyzed by SEM. The results indicate that this alloy can be laser welded with full penetration. All the tensile specimens fracture on the base metal, far from the weld in the transverse direction. The tensile strength and yield strength of TWB are 89% and 91.2% compared with the base metal. The percentage of the thinner plate in the specimen has an important effect on the transverse elongation. The transverse elongation of TWB approaches that of the base metal when the thinner plate has a large percentage in TWB specimen. The weld microstructure shows extra-fine grains. Dendrite exists around weld fusion line and the equiaxed grains in the weld.