Page 57 - Welding of Aluminium and its Alloys

48 The welding of aluminium and its alloys

Table 3.2 Guidance on filler metal selection – dissimilar metal joints for
specific alloys

Parent 1050 2219 3103 5005 6061 7005 8090
metal 1080 3105 5083 6063 7019
1200 5251 6082 7020
5454 7039
8090 5556 5556
7039 5556 5556 5356 5556 5556
7019 5356 5356 5356 5356
7020 5183 5183 5183 5183
7005 5039
6061 5356 4043 5356 5556
6063 NS 5356 5356
6082 4043 5183
5454 5356 5356 5356
5251 5356 5356 5056
5083 5356 5356
5005 5356
3103 5356 2319 5356 5356 5356 5556 5556
3105 NS 4043 5056 5356
4043 4043
2219 2319 2319
4043
1050 4043 2319
1080 1050 4043
1200 1080

published a similar specification, AWS A5.10 ‘Specification for Bare Alu-
minium and Aluminium Alloy Welding Electrodes and Rods’, which fulfils
a similar role. This specification includes 15 separate filler metal composi-
tions, comprising alloys in the 1XXX, 2XXX, 4XXX and 5XXX series. In
addition there are five age-hardening filler metals designed for use in the
welding of castings. AWS A5.10 also includes delivery conditions and the
testing requirements for usability and soundness.
As mentioned earlier, filler metal selection is crucial to producing crack-
free, optimum strength welded joints but there are other considerations
that may need to be included when making the choice. Unlike selecting
consumables for welding steel, where the composition of the filler metal
generally matches that of the parent metal with respect to composition,
mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and appearance, aluminium
alloys are often welded with filler metals that do not match the parent metal
in some or all of these properties. This presents the engineer with some
problems when it comes to deciding on the optimum filler metal composi-
tion. In addition to strength and crack resistance the choice may also need
to include colour match, corrosion resistance, response to anodising and