Effects of Post-Weld Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the AZ91 Laser Welded Joint

Plates of AZ91 magnesium alloy were butt-welded using a CO2 laser. The non-equilibrium solidification of the laser-melted metal caused fragmentation of the weld microstructure as well as the supersaturation of a solid solution of aluminium in magnesium, which enabled the T5 ageing of the weld. The weld proved to be a mechanically stable part of the joint; all the tensile-tested specimens, both as-welded and post-weld T5 aged, fractured outside it. During the ageing of the supersaturated joint, which involved heat treating it to the T6 condition, the weld was the region where discontinuous precipitation was observed and this was the location of fracture in the tensile specimens. Thus, the strength properties of welded, supersaturated and aged AZ91 were much worse than when the non-welded material was T6 tempered.