Effect of Shielding Gas Mixture on Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) of Low Carbon Steel (LR Grade A)

Abstract

The aimed of this research is to determine the feasibility and effect of the mixture of the shielding gas in the physical and mechanical properties. Low carbon steel LR grade A in a thickness 12 mm were joined in butt joint types using GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) with groove’s gap 5 mm and groove angle’s 400 with variation of shielding gas composition. The composition of shielding gas that used were 100% Ar, 100 % CO2 and 50% Ar + 50 % CO2. The measured of mechanical properties with regard to strength, hardness and toughness using, tensile test, bending test, Vickers hardness Test, and Charpy impact test respectively. The physical properties examined with optical microscope. Results show that tensile strength of welding metals are higher than raw materials. Welds metal with mixing Ar + CO shielding gas has the highest tensile strength. Hardness of weld metals with the shielding gas 100% Ar, 100 % CO2 and 50% Ar + 50 % CO2 are 244.9; 209.4; and 209.4 VHN respectively. The temperature of Charpy test was varied to find the transition temperature of the materials. The temperature that used were –60°C, -40°C, -20°C, 0°C, 20°C , and room temperature. Weld metals with various shielding gas have similar trends of toughness flux that was corellated with the microstructure of weld .