The Effect of Alloying Elements on the Shear Strength of the Lap Joint of AZ31B Magnesium Alloy to Q235 Steel by Hybrid Laser-TIG Welding Technique

Welding between AZ31B Mg alloy and Q235 mild steel was examined in this study. The effects of welding parameters were first investigated on the penetration depth into the steel and the shear strength of the joints. The optimum parameters and the maximum shear strength were obtained. Based on these parameters, alloying elements in the form of interlayers were added into the joints, and the shear strength was improved as high as 98 pct of the AZ31B Mg alloy. Microstructures of the joints were inspected with a scanning electron microscope and an electron probe micro-analyzer. Two bonding modes were proposed, and their effects on the joint shear strength were discussed. It is suggested that the bonding changed from nonmetallurgical to “semimetallurgical” mode with the addition of the interlayers, which contributed to the enhancement of the shear strength. Micro-hardness profiles were measured in the fusion zone of the joints, and their influence on the joint strength was also discussed. Intermediate phases that distributed uniformly in the fusion zone strengthened the microstructures, and thus, the shear strength was elevated. An empirical trend for Cu and Ni interlayer selection was proposed.