Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy

Abstract Alternating current (AC) arc melting technology has been developed for the manufacturing of lightweight materials and provides a potential heat source in welding and additive manufacturing. However, metal flow and the corresponding effects of AC arc melting remain unclear. Here, 3D internal...

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Main Authors: Bin Xu, Chengyu Zhang, Guokai Zhang, Fan Jiang, Shinichi Tashiro, Manabu Tanaka, Shujun Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Communications Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00819-x
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author Bin Xu
Chengyu Zhang
Guokai Zhang
Fan Jiang
Shinichi Tashiro
Manabu Tanaka
Shujun Chen
author_facet Bin Xu
Chengyu Zhang
Guokai Zhang
Fan Jiang
Shinichi Tashiro
Manabu Tanaka
Shujun Chen
author_sort Bin Xu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Alternating current (AC) arc melting technology has been developed for the manufacturing of lightweight materials and provides a potential heat source in welding and additive manufacturing. However, metal flow and the corresponding effects of AC arc melting remain unclear. Here, 3D internal and surface flows in an aluminium alloy during AC tungsten arc melting are studied via in situ/operando 4D X-ray radiography and laser high-speed imaging. The molten flow velocity under positive polarity is much greater than that under negative polarity. We find that liquid metal flow is mainly influenced by the cathode spot motion at the molten pool surface in the electrode positive stage. This information can be used to guide process optimization in the manufacturing of light metals via AC arc melting.
format Article
id doaj-art-ced37498b60c4b55a086d3e1f2e142a5
institution Kabale University
issn 2662-4443
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Materials
spelling doaj-art-ced37498b60c4b55a086d3e1f2e142a52025-08-20T03:53:12ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Materials2662-44432025-05-016111110.1038/s43246-025-00819-xMetal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloyBin Xu0Chengyu Zhang1Guokai Zhang2Fan Jiang3Shinichi Tashiro4Manabu Tanaka5Shujun Chen6College of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of TechnologyCollege of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of TechnologyCollege of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of TechnologyCollege of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of TechnologyJoining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka UniversityJoining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka UniversityCollege of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of TechnologyAbstract Alternating current (AC) arc melting technology has been developed for the manufacturing of lightweight materials and provides a potential heat source in welding and additive manufacturing. However, metal flow and the corresponding effects of AC arc melting remain unclear. Here, 3D internal and surface flows in an aluminium alloy during AC tungsten arc melting are studied via in situ/operando 4D X-ray radiography and laser high-speed imaging. The molten flow velocity under positive polarity is much greater than that under negative polarity. We find that liquid metal flow is mainly influenced by the cathode spot motion at the molten pool surface in the electrode positive stage. This information can be used to guide process optimization in the manufacturing of light metals via AC arc melting.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00819-x
spellingShingle Bin Xu
Chengyu Zhang
Guokai Zhang
Fan Jiang
Shinichi Tashiro
Manabu Tanaka
Shujun Chen
Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
Communications Materials
title Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
title_full Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
title_fullStr Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
title_full_unstemmed Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
title_short Metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
title_sort metal flow mechanisms during alternating current arc welding and additive manufacturing of aluminium alloy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00819-x
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