In recent years an increasing interest in industry for magnesium and its alloys can be found, especially in the automotive industry where the weight saving effect is an important factor in reducing fuel consumption (Refs. 1, 2). For exploiting this new fields of applications, manufacturing techniques such as welding will play an important role. Until today only gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is established and mainly applied for the repair of cast magnesium parts. For special applications also electron beam welding (EBW) is in use. Laser welding, with its excellent focusing ability, resulting in a low net heat input, and its easy possibilities for integration into an automated production process is superior to the GTAW process. Research in the field of laser welding of magnesium is still in its beginning (3-6). In this paper results of investigations of microstructure and mechanical properties of four magnesium base alloys welded with a CO_2-laser are presented.
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