Abstract
The purpose of this study is to establish resistance seam welding technology for stainless steel foil materials. To establish the technology, we investigated whether the joint strength was sufficient and stable (Target: 80% of base metal strength), and whether nuggets were formed in a continuous overlapping pattern. Sufficient and stable joint strength was achieved for all foil thicknesses tested (200 μm, 100 μm, 50 μm, 20 μm). The important parameters in resistance seam welding technology for foil materials are current value and curvature radius of electrode. For 200 μm and 100 μm thick foils, fracture pattern was base metal fracture. The fracture occurred at the softened zone near the welding zone. For 50 μm and 20 μm thick foils, fracture patterns were divided into base metal fracture and joint interface fracture. Differences in fracture patterns may cause variations in strength. As the thickness in the foil material decreases (50 μm, 20 μm), the nugget disappears and the continuity of the nugget in the welding zone is lost. Nuggets could not be formed even when the current value and curvature radius of electrode were changed. However, the target values for joint strength were also achieved for solid phase bonding.
