Microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar joint between aluminum and aluminum-coated steel by cold metal transfer process

Two dissimilar materials, aluminum alloy and aluminum-coated steel, were joined by cold metal transfer process using AlSi5 filler wire. To this end, the steel was coated with Al-Si. The steel did not melt and aluminum was melt to form the joint during the process, it was actually cold metal transfer welding-brazing. The macrostructure, microstructure, alloy element distribution, and inter-metallic compounds were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. It was found that the Al-Si coating dissolved into the weld metal. The pre-existing thin Fe-Al- Si ternary inter-metallic compounds in the interface between the Ak-Si coating layer and base metal steel also partially dissolved into the weld zone, tending to reduce the thickness of inter-metallic compounds. Approximate 3 μm thick undissolved intermetallic compound was found at the interface after welding which could guarantee sound bonding strength in dissimilar materials joining. The sample was fractured at the fusion zone near the aluminum side in the tensile test. The ultimate tensile strength was about 156 MPa, and the fracture mode is ductile failure in nature according to its morphology.