New Recommendation Standard Highlights Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding for Aluminum Alloy

The China welding Association has released T/CWAN 0187—2025,Recommendation Procedure Specification for Laser-arc Hybrid Welding of Aluminium Alloy. The standard was released on December 23, 2025, and came into effect on January 1, 2026.

The standard focuses on laser-arc hybrid welding for aluminum alloy. It covers general requirements, process requirements, welding quality, and welding inspection.

The standard applies to aluminum alloy plates and profiles with a thickness of 3 mm or more. Aluminum alloy pipe welding can also refer to the standard.

Clear Requirements for Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding Equipment

The standard gives clear requirements for equipment used in laser-arc hybrid welding.

The equipment can include a laser generator, beam transmission system, focusing system, arc welding power source, laser-arc hybrid welding torch, welding travel system, dust removal system, side-blowing system, gas pressure meter, gas flow meter, and temperature measuring equipment.

The standard states that the laser generator should meet the related requirements for laser equipment. The arc welding power source should also meet the relevant welding equipment standards.

For laser-arc hybrid welding, equipment should be checked, maintained, and calibrated on a regular basis. After installation, relocation, major repair, or a long period without use, the equipment should be checked again before production.

This is important because stable equipment is a basic part of stable laser-arc hybrid welding.

Material Preparation Is Also Important

The new standard also gives requirements for material preparation before laser-arc hybrid welding.

Aluminum alloy plates and welding wires should have quality documents from the manufacturer. The base material and welding wire should be cleaned before welding.

The standard gives several cleaning methods. Industrial alcohol or acetone can be used to remove oil and other dirt. When needed, chemical cleaning can be used to remove the oxide film. For large aluminum alloy plates, laser cleaning is recommended.

The standard also requires the shielding gas to meet the related requirements. The gas purity should be at least 99.99%, and the dew point should be below -50°C.

These requirements help create a clean and stable welding condition for laser-arc hybrid welding.

Welding Process Requirements

Joint preparation is another key part of laser-arc hybrid welding.

The standard gives recommended joint types and dimensions for different aluminum alloy thicknesses. The joint design should also consider the strong penetration ability of the laser.

Before welding, the surface around the joint should be clean and free from oil, oxide film, rust, and other contamination.

The standard also allows laser cleaning to be integrated into automatic welding equipment. In this way, surface cleaning can be done near the front of the molten pool during the welding process.

During laser-arc hybrid welding, the welding parameters should be adjusted according to changes in joint width. Multi-pass and multi-layer welding can be used when needed.

The standard also recommends adding a laser beam oscillation process when necessary. This can help reduce pores, improve side-wall fusion and interlayer fusion, and improve weld appearance.

Recommended Welding Parameters

The standard provides recommended process parameters for laser-arc hybrid welding.

For aluminum alloy materials with a thickness of 3–5 mm, the recommended laser power is 4–5 kW. The welding current is 80–100 A, the welding voltage is 18–20 V, and the welding speed is 600–800 mm/min.

For material thicknesses of 5–7 mm, the recommended laser power is 6–7 kW, with a welding current of 100–120 A and a welding voltage of 20–23 V.

For material thicknesses of 7–10 mm, the recommended laser power is 7–8 kW. The welding current is 120–140 A, and the welding voltage is 22–25 V.

For material thicknesses of 10–12 mm, the recommended laser power is 8–9 kW. The welding current is 140–160 A, and the welding voltage is 24–28 V.

These values are recommended process parameters in the standard. Actual production should still be based on the specific material, joint design, equipment, and qualified welding procedure.

Quality Control for Laser-Arc Hybrid Welding

Quality control is a key part of laser-arc hybrid welding.

The standard states that the weld surface should be even, dense, and smooth, with a good transition to the base material. The weld should not have cracks, lack of fusion, undercut, or pores.

The standard also gives requirements for welding inspection. Visual inspection, radiographic or ultrasonic inspection, and penetration testing are included in the inspection requirements.

Mechanical tests can also include tensile testing, impact testing, bending testing, fatigue testing, and hardness testing.

For production users, these requirements provide a clear process from material preparation to welding and inspection. This makes laser-arc hybrid welding easier to control in industrial production.

What the New Standard Means for Industrial Welding

The release of this standard gives manufacturers a clearer technical reference for aluminum alloy laser-arc hybrid welding.

Aluminum alloy is used in many industrial fields. The standard itself also references aluminum alloy materials used in areas such as shipbuilding, rail transportation, and aviation.

For welding equipment manufacturers, this development also shows the need for stable welding power sources and reliable welding systems. A stable arc power source is an important part of a complete laser-arc hybrid welding system.

Morrow Welding Development Co., Ltd. focuses on the production and sales of welding power sources and related welding products. Morrow products are used in industries such as steel, shipbuilding, petroleum, and metallurgy, with stable markets in Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.

As aluminum alloy welding technology continues to develop, laser-arc hybrid welding provides manufacturers with another process option for industrial welding. The new T/CWAN 0187—2025 standard gives users a clear reference for equipment, materials, process control, quality requirements, and inspection.

Morrow will continue to focus on welding power source technology and provide practical welding solutions for industrial customers.