Effect of welding speed on microstructural characteristics and tensile properties of GTA welded AZ31B magnesium alloy

The effect of welding speed on tensile and microstructural characteristics of pulsed current gas tungsten arc welded (PCGTAW) AZ31B magnesium alloy joints was studied. Five joints were fabricated using different levels of welding speeds (105-145 mm/min). It was found that the joints fabricated using a welding speed of 135 mm/min yielded superior tensile properties compared to other joints. The formation of fine grains and uniformly distributed precipitates in the fusion zone are the main reasons for the superior tensile properties of these joints.