Microstructural characterization and finite element modeling of AZ31 magnesium alloys welded joints

In this article, it has been studied how the microstructure of AZ31 magnesium alloy can be affected by the thermic cycles produced by welding processes, trying to modeling by element finite software the thermic cycles in this material. The AZ31 samples tested were welded using Gas Tugsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and different filler materials. For this investigation, optic microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, and finite elements method software has been used. This work indicates in one hand that in this type of alloys the microconstituyentes are Al-Mn o Al-Mn-Mg compounds, the presence of β-phase cannot be found at room temperature in this research at room, on the other hand the obtained simulation models indicate that the recrystallization takes place in the areas which reach maximum temperatures around 550 °C, this value is also the limit of the dissolution area for the Al-Mn o Al-Mn-Mg recipitated particles which are very likely to act as inhibitors of the corrosion in NaCl electrolytes.