Product Code: ICAL06_1902

Gap Tolerant Joining of Aluminum with Steel Sheets Using the Hybrid Technique
Authors:
Frank Vollertsen, BIAS Bremer Institut für angewandte Strahltechnik; Germany
Michael Kreimeyer, BIAS Bremer Institut für angewandte Strahltechnik; Bremen Germany
Presented at ICALEO 2006

Laser joining of dissimilar materials is one of the core competence of BIAS and is of rising interest focussing new design concepts for weight savings in different fields in automotive and aeronautic industry. Beside the development of joining techniques for thin aluminum-steel sheets the joining of thicker material is of rising interest. Therefore specific processes have to be developed which allow dissimilar joints with small intermetallic phases. By using the hybrid process (Nd:YAG-Laser + MIG), a gap tolerant joining of aluminum-steel joints, thickness 3-4 mm, in butt joint configuration with small intermetallic phase layers is possible. Furthermore the developed process allows a flux free joining of these dissimilar material combination. For the characterization of the joining zone microstructural examinations have been carried out by optical and electron microscopy as well as electron back scattered diffraction analyses. Additionally results from mechanical examinations with tensile and fatigue tests will be reported.