Effect of shield gas on the characteristics of $CO_2$ laser welded 600MPa grade high strength steel

600MPa급 자동차용 고장렬강판의 $CO_2$ 레이저 용접부의 특성에 미치는 보호가스의 영향

The effect of shield gas on the weldability, mechanical properties and formability of CO2 laser weld joint in 600MPa grade high strength steel was investigated. Bead on plate welds were made under various welding speed and shield gas. Tensile test was carried out under the load of perpendicular and parallel direction to the weld line, Formability of the joint was evaluated by Erichsen test. As the welding speed increases, the porosity fraction decreases. The porosity fraction in the joint used Ar-$50\%He$ mixed gas as a shield gas was lower than that of the joint used Ar gas. Hardness at the weld metal of full penetrated joint was nearly equal to that of water quenched raw metal. In a tensile test under a perpendicular load to the weld axis, strength and elongation of joint produced by optimum condition were nearly equal to those of base metal. However, the strength of joint in a tensile test under a parallel load to weld axis was higher than that of raw metal, but the elongation of joint was lower than that of raw metal. Elongation and formability were further increased by the method of using Ar+He mixed gas as a shield gas as compared with Ar gas. Formabilities of joints were recorded ranging from $58\%\;to\;70\%$ of that of base metal with different shield gases.