TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 425/1990
By M F Gittos
Background
As part of a project studying the joining of Al-Li alloys, the application of resistance and laser welding to the Al alloy 8090 (Al-2.5Li-1.2Cu-0.7Mg-Zr) has been investigated. Conditions for making resistance spot and seam welds in 1.5mm sheet and laser welds in 2mm sheet were developed and the incidence of weld defects determined together with the static strengths of the welds. Resistance welding performance was compared with the Al-Mg-Si alloy L113 and laser welding (using a Trumpf 5kW fast axial flow CO2 gas laser) up to 4mm thick was attempted.