Physical Phenomena and Porosity Prevention Mechanism in Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding

Hybrid welding of stainless steels or aluminium alloys was performed with the heat sources of YAG laser and TIG, or YAG laser and MIG, respectively. The effects of welding conditions and melt flows on penetration depth, geometry and porosity formation were investigated with the X-ray transmission real-time observation method. Melt flows on penetration depth and geometry were consequently confirmed. Concerning porosity suppression, in TIG-YAG hybrid welding of stainless steel, no formation of bubbles was attributed to the absence of pores. On the other hand, disappearance of bubbles from the concave molten pool surface due to the arc pressure played an important role in reducing porosity in YAG-MIG hybrid welding of aluminium alloys at high arc currents.