Research status of arc welding-brazing of aluminum/steel

Aluminum alloy and steel are prone to react and generate various intermetallic compounds at high temperatures, so welding of aluminum/steel keeps being a challenge. Controlling generation and scale of intermetallic compounds at the interface is crucial for successful aluminum/steel welding. Arc welding-brazing is one of the most promising methods to solve the problem of aluminum/steel welding. In this paper, the research status of aluminum/steel arc welding-brazing in recent years was summarized. Weldability of aluminum/steel arc welding-brazing was analyzed. The methods to control growth of intermetallic compounds were discussed emphatically, including reducing welding heat input, reducing heat source energy density, adding alloy elements that could inhibit growth of intermetallic compounds, using interlayer, and so on. Moreover, methods to improve wettability and spreadability of liquid metal, including coating/cladding, brazing flux, auxiliary magnetic field, preheating or auxiliary heating, were summarized. Some problems that need to be further solved in aluminum/steel arc welding-brazing were also put forward.