Corrosion fatigue crack propagation behaviour in different micro-regions of steel/aluminum laser-MIG hybrid fusion-brazed joints

Abstract

Evaluating corrosion fatigue crack propagation (CFCP) behaviour in different micro-regions of steel/aluminium welded joints is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of these joints in service environments. However, the CFCP behaviour of steel/aluminum welded joints has rarely been studied. This study explores the CFCP behaviour of steel/aluminium laser-metal inert gas hybrid fusion-brazed joints in different micro-regions under a simulated corrosive environment (3.5 wt% NaCl solution) at room temperature. A self-made 5 KN electronic servo testing machine was used to apply a sinusoidal wave load (stress ratio R = 0.1, frequency = 0.5 Hz) to single-edge notched tensile specimens. The notches were located at the weld, heat-affected zone (HAZ) and steel/aluminium interface (abbreviated as interface). The fatigue crack propagation rate (da/dN) of different micro-regions in steel/aluminium welded joints followed the order of interface > weld > HAZ under corrosive environment and air conditions. Compared with air, the corrosive environment triggered a markedly higher da/dN, irrespective of notch location at the weld, HAZ or interface. This accelerated da/dN resulted from the combined effects of anodic dissolution, chloride ions and galvanic corrosion. The electron backscatter diffraction results indicated that compared with the weld and HAZ specimens, the HAZ specimen exhibited lower da/dN, attributed to its small grains, higher proportion of high-angle grain boundaries and increased geometrically necessary dislocation density. Fatigue striations were clearly observed on the weld and HAZ fracture surfaces, while a brittle fracture pattern was observed on the corrosion fatigue fracture surface for the interface.