Material flow and microstructure in the friction stir butt welds of the same and dissimilar aluminum alloys

The material flow and microstructural evolution in the friction stir welds of a 6061-Al alloy to itself and of a 6061-Al alloy to 2024-Al alloy plates of 12.7 mm in thickness were studied under different welding conditions. The results showed that plastic deformation, flow, and mechanical mixing of the material exhibit distinct asymmetry characteristics at both sides of the same and dissimilar welds. The microstructure in dissimilar 6061-Al/2024-Al welds is significantly different from that in the welds of a 6061-Al alloy to itself. Vortex-like structures featured by the concentric flow lines for a weld of 6061-Al alloy to itself, and alternative lamellae with different alloy constituents for a weld of 6061-Al to 2024-Al alloy, are attributed to the stirring action of the threaded tool, in situ extrusion, and traverse motion along the welding direction. The mutual mixing in the dissimilar metal welds is intimate and far from complete. However, the bonding between the two Al-alloys is clearly complete. Three different regions in the nugget zone of dissimilar 6061-Al/2024-Al welds are classified by the mechanically mixed region (MMR) characterized by the relatively dispersed particles of different alloy constituents, the stirring-induced plastic flow region (SPFR) consisting of alternative vortex-like lamellae of the two Al-alloys, and the unmixed region (UMR) consisting of fine equiaxed grains of the 6061-Al alloy. Within all of these three regions, the material is able to withstand a very high degree of plastic deformation due to the presence of dynamic recovery or recrystallization of the microstructure. The degree of material mixing, the thickness of the deformed Al-alloy lamellae, and the material flow patterns depend on the related positions in the nugget zone and the processing parameters. Distinct fluctuations of hardness are found to correspond to the microstructural changes throughout the nugget zone of dissimilar welds.