Susceptibility for extrusion welding of AlMg alloys

The extrusion of hollow profiles from high strength aluminium alloys through porthole dies causes serious problem in practice. Mainly, this is due to low weldability of these alloys and high extrusion force. The present paper discusses the investigations undertaken to determine the weldability of hard AlMg alloys using the original method and device. Main advantage of the proposed method is that it allows for the reflection of real welding conditions occurring in a welding chamber of the porthole die. Weldability tests were performed for alloys: 5754 (3.5% Mg), 5083 (4.5% Mg), 5019 (5.6% Mg) and 5xxx (7.1% Mg) in a wide range of temperature, unit pressure (normal compressive stress) and duration of welding. Microstructure and strength properties of the welds were examined. Most favourable welding conditions for the tested alloys, allowing for obtaining high strength welds were defined. To validate the laboratory experiments the extrusion trials were performed in the industrial conditions, in which the round tubes from 5754 alloy were produced using the porthole dies. The tensile strength of the welds in the extruded tubes is comparable to that for the solid material. Strength of the welds as well as of the solid material strongly increases with magnesium content in the alloy.