Effects of Post-weld Heat Treatment on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and the Role of Weld Reinforcement in 2219 Aluminum Alloy TIG-Welded Joints

In as-welded state, each region of 2219 aluminum alloy TIG-welded joint shows different microstructure and microhardness due to the different welding heat cycles and the resulting evolution of second phases. After the post-weld heat treatment, both the amount and the size of the eutectic structure or θ phases decreased. Correspondingly, both the Cu content in α-Al matrix and the microhardness increased to a similar level in each region of the joint, and the tensile strength of the entire joint was greatly improved. Post-weld heat treatment played the role of solid solution strengthening and aging strengthening. After the post-weld heat treatment, the weld performance became similar to other regions, but weld reinforcements lost their reinforcing effect on the weld and their existence was more of an adverse effect. The joint without weld reinforcements after the post-weld heat treatment had the optimal tensile properties, and the specimens randomly crack in the weld zone.