Microstructure–Texture–Mechanical Property Correlation in Laser-Welded Dual-Phase and Interstitial-Free Steel Blanks

The present study deals with laser welding of two different galvanized sheets of steel, namely dual-phase (DP) and interstitial-free (IF) steel, to produce a laser-welded blank (LWB), also commonly called tailor laser-welded blank or laser-welded blanks (LWBs), for automotive applications. Microstructures across the welded region depicted mainly martensitic structures in the fusion zones on both DP and IF steels. Ferrite fractions and the number fraction of high-angle grain boundaries gradually increased from the weld center to base metal regions due to a gradual decrement in cooling rate. Texture analysis showed the dominance of alpha and gamma fibers in the IF base metal (IF-BM) zone compared to other regions in the weldment. Kernel average misorientation value and high-volume fraction of suitable texture components finally contribute to the weldment's failure from the IF-BM zone.