Metal Inert Gas (MIG)–Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) and Fiber Laser–MIG Hybrid Welds for 6005A T6: Experimental and Numerical Comparison

The microstructural and hardness properties of welded joints of AA 6005-T6 aluminum alloy obtained with metal inert gas (MIG), fiber laser–MIG hybrid, and cold metal transfer (CMT) welding were analyzed immediately after welding and after 3 years of natural aging. The fine hardening precipitation within the heat-affected zone, fusion zone, and base material was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry for the three different welding techniques. The elastic–plastic properties of the welded joints were characterized by means of finite element. For all investigations, the analysis on AA6005 aluminum alloy confirms a better behavior of CMT and fiber laser–MIG hybrid joints with respect to the conventional MIG processes.