Overview - ISO/TR 17671-4:2002 (Arc welding of aluminium and alloys)
ISO/TR 17671-4:2002 is an informative Technical Report that gives general recommendations for the satisfactory design, production and control of arc welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys. It applies to manual, mechanized and automatic fusion welding of wrought and cast aluminium (and their combinations), identifies the main factors that affect aluminium welding, and describes possible detrimental effects and avoidance measures. This part of ISO/TR 17671 focuses on welding-related matters only and does not specify mechanical property limits for welded joints.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and intent: Guidance for satisfactory welding practice rather than prescriptive mechanical acceptance criteria; complements application standards and contract requirements.
- Welding processes covered: Metal inert gas (MIG, ISO 4063 code 131), tungsten inert gas (TIG, code 141) and plasma arc welding (code 15); other fusion processes by agreement.
- Quality and personnel: Recommendations to use approved personnel and validated procedures in line with standards such as ISO 9606-2, ISO 14732 and ISO 9956 series.
- Parent metal considerations: Guidance for wrought, cast and non‑standard aluminium alloys; storage, handling and avoidance of contamination (e.g., contact with ferrous materials).
- Welding consumables: Filler metal compatibility with parent metal, storage and handling of wires/rods; shielding gases (commonly argon, helium or argon/helium mixes per ISO 14175). Annex B gives further recommendations on consumable selection.
- Joint design and preparation: Joint types, backing materials (temporary/permanent), gaps, root strategies for single- and double-sided butt joints, and recommendations for gouging and cleaning.
- Thermal control: Advice on preheating, interpass temperature, measurement methods and minimization of heat-affected zone (HAZ) issues.
- Equipment and process control: Return cable sizing, calibration/validation when ISO 3834-quality assurance is required.
- Defects and mitigation: Annex A lists common detrimental effects in aluminium welding (causes and countermeasures) - useful for reducing porosity, cracking and other failures.
Applications - who uses this standard
- Welding engineers and procedure writers creating or validating welding procedure specifications (WPS) for aluminium fabrications.
- Fabricators in industries that rely on aluminium structures (marine, transport, construction, lightweight manufacturing and general fabrication).
- Welding coordinators, QA/QC personnel and inspectors specifying quality systems and operator approvals.
- Material and design engineers seeking guidance on HAZ effects, consumable selection and joint detailing.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/TR 17671-4, arc welding aluminium, welding recommendations, MIG, TIG, shielding gas, welding consumables, weld quality, welding procedures.