Effect of ultrasonic impact on the microstructure of welded joint of 2195 Al-Li alloy

It is known that an ultrasonic impact during tungsten inert gas welding can refine the grains and improve the mechanical properties of the welded joints of aluminum alloys. However, the influence mechanism of the ultrasonic impact on the microstructures is still unclear. In this research, the effects of the mechanical and ultrasonic impact on the microstructures of the welded joint of 2195 Al-Li alloy are analyzed. It is found that the mechanical impact could not refine the grains, but the ultrasonic impact could refine the grains. The grains become smaller in the weld center with an increase in the ultrasonic amplitude. Possible mechanisms for the grain refinement are discussed. The results show that the small temperature gradient promotes formation of the equiaxed grain and the cavitation promotes heterogeneous nucleation.