5154 Aluminum Alloy Welding Wire

Key points for storage and pretreatment of 5154 aluminum alloy welding wire: key steps to avoid pores and oxidation

I. Storage environment control

Humidity requirements:
The relative humidity of the storage environment needs to be controlled at ≤40% (it is recommended to use a constant temperature and humidity cabinet). Aluminum welding wire is prone to weld pores (H₂ pores) after absorbing moisture.
Welding wire that has not been used up after unpacking needs to be sealed with a moisture-proof bag and placed with a desiccant.

Temperature and expiration:
The storage temperature is recommended to be 10-25℃ to avoid high temperature accelerated oxidation.
The shelf life of unopened welding wire is usually 1-2 years (please refer to the manufacturer's instructions). It is recommended to use it up within 72 hours after opening.

II. Welding wire pretreatment measures

Surface cleaning:
Use acetone or special aluminum cleaning agent to remove oil stains and oxide film (Al₂O₃) on the surface of the welding wire. The oxide film has a high melting point (2050℃) and is prone to cause unfused defects.
It is forbidden to touch it with bare hands after cleaning to avoid secondary contamination.

Drying treatment:
If the welding wire is exposed to a humid environment for more than 4 hours, it needs to be dried at 120-150℃ for 1-2 hours (do not overheat to avoid burning of magnesium).

III. Key inspections before welding

Confirmation of welding wire status:
Observe whether the surface is black (severe oxidation needs to be scrapped) and whether there are burrs (may cause poor wire feeding).

Shielding gas detection:
Use high-purity argon (≥99.99%), and the oxygen content must be <0.001% to prevent weld oxidation.

IV. Common problems and countermeasures in the industry

Problem 1: Dense pores in the weld
Reason: The welding wire is damp or the shielding gas is impure.
Solution: Dry the welding wire + detect gas pipeline leakage.

Problem 2: Unstable wire feeding
Reason: The welding wire is bent or the surface oxide layer is too thick.
Solution: Replace the wire reel and adjust the wire feeding wheel pressure.

V. Extended suggestions

For high-demand scenarios (such as aerospace and ships), it is recommended to purchase vacuum-packed welding wire and equip it with a constant temperature storage cabinet for welding wire.
Regularly calibrate welding equipment parameters to ensure that the wire feeding speed matches the current (recommended wire feeding speed for 5154 welding wire: 5-8m/min).