Analisis Variasi Power dan Jumlah Layer Buttering Menggunakan Laser Beam Welding pada Pengelasan GMAW SS 400 dan SUS 304L terhadap Sifat Mekanik dan Struktur Mikro

Abstract

The buttering process, typically used in dissimilar metal welding to enhance joint quality, is less common in thin plate materials. This study investigated the use of laser beam welding (LBW) for buttering thin SS 400 and SUS 304L plates, examining parameters of 4 and 6 buttering layers with power settings at 40%, 45%, and 50%. Experimental tests included tensile, bend, hardness, and metallographic analyses. Results showed that the lowest tensile strength (481 MPa) occurred with 4 layers at 40% power using ER 308LSi electrodes, while the highest (512.8 MPa) was achieved with 6 layers at 50% power using ER 309L electrodes. Hardness values followed a similar trend, with the lowest hardness at 40% power and 4 layers (203.23 kgf/mm²) and the highest at 50% power and 6 layers (219.76 kgf/mm²). Bending tests revealed discontinuities at lower power settings and fewer layers. Microstructural analysis indicated that higher laser power and more buttering layers resulted in a more compact microstructure, leading to improved tensile strength and hardness. This study provides valuable insights for industries engaged in dissimilar metal and laser welding applications.