LASER BEAM WELDING EFFECT ON THE MICROHARDNESS OF WELDING AREA OF 304 STAINLESS STEEL & LOW CARBON STEEL

Abstract

During laser beam welding focused high-capacity laser beam moved over the seam of the parts to be welded. The high intensity of the laser beam causes both parts to highly melt. In the melting bath a so-called keyhole formed, which enables the deep penetration of the laser beam. The melting bath solidifies quickly after the laser beam has passed, where strong connection with good metallurgical characteristics is the result.

For this research, the laser sources applied for laser welding are mainly the CO2 laser. This research aimed to an attempt to investigate the microhardness changes of the welding area to unsimilar metals and which occur during the welding processes between unsimilar metals (304 stainless steel & low carbon steel), where the surface of laser beam welding offers deepness up to (3mm), The variables studied, which may have an effect on the welding processes, discussing the relationship between the welding parameter and Microhardness of welded joint and explaining the major effected of these variables (power) on the welding area.