Cold metal transfer (CMT) is a modified metal inert gas welding process based on short-circuiting the transfer process, characterised by low heat input and no-spatter welding. The arc characteristics and its droplet transfer process have been studied by high-speed video photography. The process was used to join aluminium to zinc-coated steel. The results shows that no-spatter welding and low heat input during the welding process can be realized by CMT, and a dissimilar metal joint with good performance can be CMT Arc characteristics M D obtained by the CMT process. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.