Effect of ultrasound on heterogeneous nucleation in TIG welding of Al-Li alloy

The effect of ultrasound on heterogeneous nucleation in a tungsten inert gas (TIG) weld pool of 2195 Al-Li alloy has been investigated by a series of experiments. An ultrasonic vibration was imposed on the surface of base material before turning off the welding arc during the TIG welding implemented at a fixed point. The results suggest that ultrasound could promote heterogeneous nucleation in the TIG weld pool of 2195 Al-Li alloy. The grain around the fusion zone is changed from a column grain to an equiaxed grain after applying the ultrasonic treatment. To study the influencing mechanism of ultrasound on heterogeneous nucleation, further investigations were implemented where the welding arc was turned off after turning off the ultrasonic power. The results show that the equiaxed grain around the fusion zone disappeared gradually with an increase in heat input after turning off the ultrasonic power. It suggests that ultrasound could promote the heterogeneous nucleation particle to nucleate in advance before turning off the welding arc and the crystal nucleus could again be melted with an increase in heat input after turning off the ultrasonic power. Moreover, the effects of the welding current and ultrasonic amplitude on heterogeneous nucleation in the weld pool of 2195 Al-Li alloy were also investigated. Possible influencing mechanism of the welding current and ultrasonic amplitude on heterogeneous nucleation was discussed.