Abnormal distribution of microhardness in tungsten inert gas arc butt-welded AZ61 magnesium alloy plates

In this study, the effects of heat input on the distribution of microhardness of tungsten inert gas (TIC) arc welded hot-extruded AZ61 magnesium alloy joints were investigated. The results show that with an increase of heat input, the distributions of microhardness at the top and bottom of the welded joints are different because they are determined by both the effect of grain coarsening and the effect of dispersion strengthening. With an increase of the heat input, the microhardness of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) at the top and bottom of welded joints and the fusion zone (FZ) at the bottom of welded joints decreased gradually, while the microhardness of the FZ at the top of welded joints decreased initially and then increased sharply. The reason for the abnormal distribution of microhardness of the FZ at the top of the welded joints is that this area is close to the heat source during welding and then large numbers of hard beta-Mg-17(Al,Zn)(12) particles are precipitated. Hence, in this case, the effect of dispersion strengthening dominated the microhardness. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.