Laser welding-brazing under temporal and spatial power modulation for dissimilar materials AA6061 to Ti6Al4V joints

A novel laser welding-brazing process with temporal and spatial power modulation was firstly reported to join dissimilar alloys of AA6061 and Ti6Al4V with medium thickness. The power modulation was achieved by changing laser power as the same time as laser beam oscillating. A sound welded-brazed joint with relatively uniform intermetallic compound morphology along the Ti/Al interface was obtained. A multi-physical model was also developed and utilized to understand the underlying mechanism of the benefit of the temporal and spatial power modulation. It was found that the temperature gradient along the Ti/Al interface was reduced effectively by using this novel process. (C) 2021 Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.