Laser Joining of Dissimilar Metallic Materials for Advanced Structural and Engineering Applications

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Joining of dissimilar metallic materials for advanced structural applications, e.g. car body, ship structures, medical appliances etc., is important for design flexibility. This will allow complementary characteristics of different metals to be exploited efficiently and therefore, will allow design engineers to push existing design boundaries for cost effective manufacturing of components. To realise the full potential it is vital to device energy efficient joining of such dissimilar metallic components. Welding is a simple and robust joining technique but the heat of welding will cause interfacial reactions between the participating alloys by triggering diffusion of atoms across the interface. This will result in formation of intermetallic compounds which would make the joint brittle and unserviceable. Therefore, development of welding processes for joining of dissimilar alloy combinations can play an important role in shaping next generation component architecture and transform manufacturing sector. Laser fusion welding has the unique advantage of controlling the heat input and high resolution in applying the heat source. Therefore, laser fusion process offers the flexibility to control the weld pool shape and therefore mixing of the participating alloys. The proposed research programme aims at formulating robust and transformational laser joining technology for joining of different dissimilar metallic material combinations. A fundamental scientific approach will be deployed by systematically identifying and understanding the key underpinning process factors that determine the metallurgical characteristics and mechanical strength of a joint.Three different dissimilar alloy combinations will be studied in the proposed research programme viz. iron-aluminium, titanium-stainless steel and nitinol-stainless steel. The dissimilar alloy combinations are chosen based on relevance to different industrial sector.