The purpose of this study was to evaluate the corrosion performance of tailor welded blanks as a function of the type of weld. Cosmetic and perforation corrosion resistance of coated sheet products containing mash-seam and laser welds were evaluated using the GM9540P-Method B and SAE J2334 laboratow corrosion tests. Materials were tested in a variety of formed conditions and as flat panels to enable comparison of the effects of forming on the painted corrosion performance. Primary conclusions ftom the study areas follows: The weld zone is much wider in mash-seam welded blanks than in laser welded blanks. Both mash-seam and laser welded blanks accept a phosphate within the weld zone, although some damage to that phosphate is apparent. Laser
welded blanks of galvarmealed material had superior red rust resistance compared to mash-seam welded blanks. Mash-seam welded blanks (max. 15mm) have poorer scribe creep resistance than laser welded blanks (max. 2-5mm). Both mash-seam and laser welded materials had slightly poorer pitting resistance than controls that did not contain a weld. Forming did not seem to play a major role in the extent of cosmetic corrosion for equivalent test times. Minor differences in scribe creep resistance occurred that could have been related to forming prior to testing, but major differences were not observed.
Keywords: tailor welded blanks, mash-seam welding, laser welding, perforation corrosion, cosmetic corrosion.