Effects of thermo-mechanical treatments on mechanical properties of AA2219 gas tungsten arc welds

Fusion zone of AA2219 alloy gas tungsten arc welds was subjected to compressive deformation by rolling the crown of the weld in the welding direction. Twelve percent compressive deformation improved the as-weld hardness from 75 to 100 VHN. The yield strength increased from 125 to 220 MPa. The welds made by pulsed current technique exhibited better strength and ductility compared to their continuous current weld counterparts, both in the as-welded condition and the deformed condition. The improvement in strength was found to be due to dislocation loops formed near the grain boundaries in the fusion zone. Direct aging of fusion zone at 190 °C, increased the yield strength significantly from 125 to about 200 MPa. Aging of the deformed fusion zone did not improve tensile strength further.