10.11.

2016

Laser Welding of
Galvanized Steel

SHIBIN R
314915051

Overview
Galvanized

steel

Common welding processes

Challenges in welding
galvanized steel
Welding

of galvanized
steel using Pulsed Nd:
YAG Laser
Welding parameters
How zinc fumes are
eliminated?

Key

findings

Conclusion
References

Common welding processes

Soldering

or Adhesive Joining

Low strength
zinc coating is not removed
Shielded

Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

Arc quality is reduced by zinc coating

Higher strength
Resistance

Spot or Seam Welding

Zinc has low resistance

Zinc sticks to Weld head

Challenges in welding galvanized steel

Effect of zinc fumes

Zinc

melts at 420 C and

boils at 906 C and is
therefore removed as
vapour

zinc

vapour gets
entrapped in the molten
weld puddle causes
porosity

Challenges in welding galvanized steel

(contd.)
Metal

fume fever

Restoring

Corrosion
Resistance

Welding of galvanized steel using Pulsed

Nd: YAG Laser

Specimen

- Galvanized sheet steel, 0.7 mm thick with 7.5 m

pure zinc coating on both sides

Equipment

- Nd:YAG (400-W) laser operating in pulsed mode

Welding parameters
Average

peak power
density (APPD)
between 3.73 x109 and
5.47 x 109 W/m2

Mean

power between
297 and 396 W

Travel

speeds
between 1 and 3 mm/s

How zinc fumes are eliminated ?

Pulsed laser power

Key hole effect

Key Findings

Conclusion
Zinc

vapour was effectively exhausted through a stable

keyhole in Laser welding

Laser

process can be easily automated and the risk of

inhaling zinc fumes by welder is eliminated.

Porosity

can be minimized by choosing the correct

welding parameters.

Overall

Smooth weld beads of high strength are

obtained mainly by the average peak power density,
mean power and travel speed.

References

Heydon l, Nilsson, K., and Magnusson C. 1989. Laser welding of zinc-coated steel.
Prec. 6th Int. Conf. Lasers in Manufacturing.

R Akhter, W. M Steen, and D Cruciani, 1988 Laser welding of zinc-coated steel.

Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Lasers in Manufacturing,
Stuttgart, West Germany

Thank you