· Web viewhard and brittle intermetallic phases in the welding seam, which cannot be completely avoided. During laser welding, a low amount of heat is introduced into the workpiece

Press releaseHannover, June 5th, 2018

Contact Lena BennefeldMarketing & Communications+49 511 [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

Quick and safe laser joining of steel-alu-minum mixed connections

For the automotive industry of the future, load-adapted and lightweight components made from steel-aluminum mixed joints are required. Within the LaserLeichter project, the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) has devel-oped a laser welding process for the quick and safe joining of three-dimensional structures made of steel and alu-minum.

Robust and lightweight steel-aluminum composite components are ideal for reducing vehicle weight and can help reducing pollu-tant emissions. In order to optimize the joining of mixed com-pounds for series production in the automotive industry, the sci-entists at the LZH have developed processes for joining two- and three-sheet metal joints with high welding speeds of up to seven meters per minute. The basis for the remote laser beam welding process is a 3D scanner optic, newly developed by the TRUMPF Laser GmbH. With this, complex three-dimensional seam ge-ometries are possible even with large structures. Thus, the process is particularly interesting for car body construction and can replace complex robot movements.

Stable joint in the event of a crashThe weld joint achieves a shear tensile strength of approximately 67 percent of the aluminum alloy. Due to the parallel arrange-ment of three welds, this can even be increased to about 95 per-cent. The process was developed for battery cases of electric cars, seat structures and car body parts. The Volkswagen AG (VW) has quasi-statically and dynamically tested the validation components for car body applications. The joined mixed com-pounds have an advantageous crash behavior, since the joining partners remain safely connected.

Editing:Lena Bennefeld | Marketing & Communications | +49 511 2788-238 | [email protected] Zentrum Hannover e.V. | Hollerithallee 8 | 30419 Hannover | +49 511 2788-0 | www.lzh.de

Use of the laser minimizes intermetallic phases One of the challenges in welding steel and aluminum is to avoid hard and brittle intermetallic phases in the welding seam, which cannot be completely avoided. During laser welding, a low amount of heat is introduced into the workpiece in a well targeted manner. Therefore, these phases are formed to a reduced extent and the dissimilar materials are melted as defined. Thus, it is possible to control the mixing of the joint.

About LaserLeichterIn the joint project "Development of Laser-Based Joining Tech-nologies for Similar Lightweight Constructions" (LaserLeichter) the partners LZH, VW, inpro Innovationsgesellschaft für fort-geschrittene Produktionssysteme in der Fahrzeugindustrie mbH, Precitec GmbH & Co. KG, MATFEM Partnerschaft Dr. Gese & Oberhofer, LUNOVU GmbH, Scherdel Marienberg GmbH, InfraTec GmbH, Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg and the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS worked together under the coordination of the Robert Bosch GmbH. Associated partners were TRUMPF Laser GmbH, ASTOR Schneidwerkzeuge GmbH, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Bond-Laminates GmbH und Hydro Extrusion Offenburg GmbH (formerly SAPA Aluminium Profile GmbH). LaserLeichter was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the scope of the funding initiative “Photonic Processes and Tools for Resource-Efficient Light-weight Construction“.The project group was coordinated by the LZH.

There are two figures and one video for this press release.


Caption figure 1: Remote laser welding of steel-aluminum mixed joints. (Photo: LZH)

Caption figure 2: Quick and safe joining of steel and aluminum using remote laser welding. (Photo: LZH)

Caption video 1: Remote laser welding of steel-aluminum mixed joints.

Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)

As an independent, non-profit research institute, the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) stands for innovative research, development and consulting. The LZH is supported by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Economics, Labour and Transport and is dedicated to the selfless promotion of applied research in the field of photonics and laser technology. Founded in 1986, over 170 employees are now working for the LZH.

The focus of the LZH lies on the fields of optical components and systems, optical production technologies, and biomedical photonics. Interdisciplinary cooperation between natural scientists and mechanical engineers makes innovative approaches to challenges from the most different areas possible: from the development of components for specific laser systems to process developments for the most diverse laser applications, for example for medi-cal technology or lightweight construction in the automotive sector. Nineteen spin off companies have emerged


from the LZH up to now. Thus, the LZH has created a strong transfer between fundamental science, application oriented research, and industry.


Documents

· Web viewhard and brittle intermetallic phases in the welding seam, which cannot be completely avoided. During laser welding, a low amount of heat is introduced into the workpiece