Effect of welding parameters on the solidification microstructure of autogenous TIG welds in an Al–Cu–Mg–Mn alloy

The weld metal microstructures of autogenous TIG welds have been investigated for a range of welding conditions using an Al–Cu–Mg–Mn alloy. It was found that a combination of high welding speeds and low power densities provide the thermal conditions required for the nucleation and growth of equiaxed grains in the weld pool, providing heterogeneous nucleation sites are available. The most likely origin of the nucleants is from a combination of dendrite fragments and TiB2 particles that survive in the weld pool. The finest microstructure was observed in the centre of the weld and is attributed to the higher cooling rates which operate along the weld centreline. Composition profiles across the dendrite side arms were measured in the TEM and were found to follow a Scheil type segregation behaviour where there is negligible back diffusion in the solid. The measured core concentration of the dendrite side arms was found to rise with increasing welding speed and was attributed to the formation of significant undercoolings ahead of the primary dendrite tip, which enriched the liquid surrounding the dendrite side arms.