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HOW DO I RESISTANCE SPOT WELD ALUMINIUM

ALLOYS?

  

Frequently Asked Questions

Aluminium and its alloys have high thermal and electrical conductivity compared with steel and, as the process depends on

resistance (Joule) heating, they require much higher welding currents. In addition, the surface contact resistance plays a major

part in heat generation. Short weld times are employed to generate the heat quickly and thus minimise the heat lost by

conduction. The harder alloys are generally more easy to weld, conversely pure aluminium is not recommended for spot

welding.
Aluminium oxide, which forms naturally on the aluminium surface, has a very high electrical resistance. Therefore, the surface

condition of the material has a strong effect on the heat generated, the settings required and also on the weldability of the

material.

Mill-finished sheet: Generally weldable but heavy or variable oxide can give inconsistency.

Chemically deoxidised or abraded The removal of oxide just prior to welding can impart a consistent but very low
sheet: surface resistance, so a much higher welding current is required. Such controlled
procedures are used for aerospace quality welds.

Surface modification treatments: Some specially designed chemical surface treatments, often applied by the
material supplier, give a medium to high surface resistance and can be consistent.
Good weldability can be achieved.

Anodised, heavy chromate or other These treatments usually give very high resistance, and sometimes completely
passivation treatments, or dry- insulating, surface layers and are usually unweldable.
lubricated sheet:

Electrodes for sheet material in the range 1 to 3mm thick have a dome face with a radius from 50 to 100mm, preferably,

increasing with sheet thickness. Larger radii may be used for high quality welding to minimise indentation. High conductivity

electrodes (Class 1 types) are usually recommended but Class 2 (e.g. Cu/Cr/Zr) can be used for commercial quality applications.

As copper readily forms an alloy with aluminium, and the contact heating is high because of the high welding currents,

electrode wear is very rapid. Attention to the electrodes is usually required after making a few hundred welds, but some of the

special surface treatments give reduced wear. More frequent electrode dressing with automated electrode dressing tools is a

recommended strategy to control the electrode condition and minimise the effect on weldquality. Electrodes are dressed very

frequently when making aerospace quality welds, to avoid any contamination of the contact faces. Very frequent, light
abrading, or buffing, of the electrodes, which prevents build-up of a visible alloy layer on the electrode, has been shown to give

excellent reproducibility of weld quality and long electrode life.

Detailed weld settings are available in standard text books or from suppliers of the material or equipment, and may depend on

the detailed quality requirements and materials being used. The standard 'BS EN ISO 18595 Resistance welding - Spot welding

of aluminium and aluminium alloys - Weldability, welding and testing', provides useful guidelines.

For commercial quality welds on 1.2mm mill-finished sheets, weld settings are typically in the region of -

Electrode force: 3 to 5 kN
Weld time: 2 to 5 cycles (40-100ms)
Welding current: 22 to 28kA

While ac power supplies can be used for welding aluminium alloys, inverter DC power supplies have been suggested as

providing greater control of the short time welding pulse, and thus improved weldability. It should be noted that with DC

supplies, that there is a marked polarity effect. Nugget growth is offset slightly towards the positive electrode and this can be

used to advantage when welding dissimilar thicknesses, by having the thinner sheet on the positive side. In addition, the

positive electrode is subjected to faster wear than the negative one. DC power supplies generally provide a more efficient use

of the mains power at the high welding currents required.

Weld splash can be detrimental to weld quality and should be avoided. Some nugget porosity or cracking can occur, especially

in sensitive alloy types. These flaws do not normally influence weld strength significantly, provided that normal plug (button)

fracture occurs on testing. Dual force schedules are needed for high quality welds where control of nugget flaws is required.
When comparing similar thickness materials, the static and fatigue shear strengths of aluminium alloy spot welds are about

one third the value of steel welds (depending on the alloy type). Where aluminium is used instead of steel, its gauge is normally

increased, giving weld strengths which compare more favourably with those of steel - but still enabling weight savings to be

made.

For more information please email:

contactus@twi.co.uk

Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK

 +44(0)1223 899000

contactus@twi.co.uk

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