Optical emission spectroscopy of metal vapor dominated laser-arc hybrid welding plasma

B. Ribic, P. Burgardt, Tarasankar Debroy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

During laser-arc hybrid welding, plasma properties affect the welding process and the weld quality. However, hybrid welding plasmas have not been systematically studied. Here we examine electron temperatures, species densities, and electrical conductivity for laser, arc, and laser-arc hybrid welding using optical emission spectroscopy. The effects of arc currents and heat source separation distances were examined because these parameters significantly affect weld quality. Time-average plasma electron temperatures, electron and ion densities, electrical conductivity, and arc stability decrease with increasing heat source separation distance during hybrid welding. Heat source separation distance affects these properties more significantly than the arc current within the range of currents considered. Improved arc stability and higher electrical conductivity of the hybrid welding plasma result from increased heat flux, electron temperatures, electron density, and metal vapor concentrations relative to arc or laser welding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number083301
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume109
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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