Joint properties of friction stir welded AZ31B– H24 magnesium alloy

Abstract

The weldability of friction stir welded hot rolled AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy sheet, 4 mm in thickness, was evaluated, varying welding parameters such as tool rotation speed and travel welding speed. Sound welding conditions depended mainly on sufficient heat input during the welding process. Insufficient heat input, which was generated in the case of higher travel speed and lower rotation speed, caused an inner void or lack of bonding in the stir zone. The microstructure of the weld zone was composed of five regions: base metal, heat affected zone, thermomechanically affected zone, stir zone I and stir zone II. Unlike the general feature of friction stir welded aluminium alloys, the grain size of the weld zone was larger than that of the base metal. Stir zones I and II were characterised by partial dynamic recrystallisation and full dynamic recrystallisation, respectively. The hardness of the weld zone was lower than that of the base metal owing to grain growth. A wider range of defect free welding conditions was acquired at higher tool rotation speed and lower welding speed. The maximum tensile strengh was 240 MPa, which was ~85% of the base metal value of 293 MPa. The fracture location was close to the stir zone.     

铝合金厚板静止轴肩搅拌摩擦焊接头组织及性能

采用8.5 mm厚度2A14-T4铝合金和自主研制搅拌工具进行静止轴肩搅拌摩擦焊（stationary shoulder friction stir welding,SSFSW）实验,探讨焊接工艺参数对接头组织和力学性能的影响规律。结果表明：只有在低转速工艺参数范围内（转速ω=400~600 r/min与焊接速率v=60~120 mm/min）可获得焊缝表面光滑、无缺陷厚板铝合金SSFSW焊接接头。SSFSW焊缝区主要由焊核区（NZ）组成,周围热力影响区（TMAZ）及热影响区（HAZ）宽度明显减小,焊核区与搅拌针形状类似且由两种不同尺寸细小等轴晶构成,前进侧NZ晶粒比后退侧NZ更为细小。接头显微硬度呈"W"状分布,NZ硬度值可达到母材硬度80%~90%,TMAZ与HAZ交界处存在软化区,硬度最低为母材硬度72%左右。在给定ω=500 r/min,v=140 mm/min焊接参数下,SSFSW接头抗拉强度可达到母材的88%,断裂位置多位于后退侧TMAZ与HAZ交界处软化区,具有韧性断裂特征。     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 7136–T76 aluminium alloy

Abstract

The microstructure of the weld was examined by light and electron microscopy (scanning and transmission). The various regions, i.e. thermomechanically affected zone, heat affected zone and unaffected base material, were studied in detail to better understand the microstructural evolution during friction stir welding and its impact on basic mechanical properties. The change in morphology of the strengthening phases reflected the relative temperature profile and the amount of deformation across the welded joint during the stir welding process. The centre of the weld was composed of fine grains and coarse particles identified mainly as MgZn₂. In the thermomechanically and heat affected zones, the grain size was not uniform, and the strengthening phases filled the grain interiors, while grain boundaries were surrounded by precipitation free zones. The size of the strengthening phase decreased towards the base material. The hardness profile of the friction stir weld displayed the lowest hardness on the retreating side. Tensile properties of the weld itself were superior to those for material containing weld.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded copper

The main objective of this investigation was to apply friction stir welding technique (FSW) for joining of 2 mm thick copper sheet. The defect free weld was obtained at a tool rotational and travel speed of 1,000 rpm and 30 mm/min, respectively. Mechanical and microstructural analysis has been performed to evaluate the characteristics of friction stir welded copper. The microstructure of the weld nugget (WN) consists of fine equiaxed grains. Similarly, the elongated grains in the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and coarse grains in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) were observed. The hardness values in the WN were higher than the base material. Eventually HAZ shows lowest hardness values because of few coarse grains presence. Friction stir welded copper joints passes 85% weld efficiency as compared to the parent metal.     

Mechanical properties of friction stir butt‐welded Al‐5086 H32 plate

Al‐5086 H32 plates with a thickness of 3 mm were friction stir butt‐welded using different welding speeds at a tool rotational speed of 1600 rpm. The effect of welding speed on the weld performance of the joints was investigated by conducting optical microscopy, microhardness measurements and mechanical tests (i.e. tensile and bend tests). The effect of heat input during friction stir welding on the microstructure, and thus mechanical properties, of cold‐rolled Al‐ 5086 plates was also determined. The experimental results indicated that the maximum tensile strength of the joints, which is about 75 % that of the base plate, was obtained with a traverse speed of 200 mm/min at the tool rotational speed used, e.g. 1600 rpm, and the maximum bending angle of the joints can reach 180^o. The maximum ductility performance of the joints was, on the other hand, relatively low, e.g. about 20 %. These results are not unexpected due to the loss of the cold‐work strengthening in the weld region as a result of the heat input during welding, and thus the confined plasticity within the stirred zone owing to strength undermatching. Higher joint performances can also be achieved by increasing the penetration depth of the stirring probe in butt‐friction stir welding of Al‐5086 H32 plates.     

铝合金超声辅助搅拌摩擦焊接接头组织性能研究

目的探究超声振动对铝合金搅拌摩擦焊的作用效果。方法分别采用普通搅拌摩擦焊和超声辅助搅拌摩擦焊方法,对7075铝合金进行焊接试验,并对焊接接头的微观组织、力学性能、断口形貌进行分析。结果普通搅拌摩擦焊焊缝中生成了隧道型缺陷,施加超声振动后,缺陷消失,形成了无缺陷的良好接头,且与普通搅拌摩擦焊相比,超声辅助搅拌摩擦焊焊缝热影响区晶粒长大程度较小,焊核晶粒细化。接头强度明显提高,达到铝合金母材强度的71.5%,接头断裂模式为韧窝和准解理的混合断裂形式。结论超声振动促进了塑性金属的流动,能有效抑制孔洞、隧道型缺陷等的形成,同时超声振动能在提升金属塑性的同时,降低焊缝的热输入。     

Identification of the pin offset effect on the friction stir welding (FSW) via Taguchi – Grey relational analysis: A Case study for AA 7075 – AA 6013 alloys

The aim of this work is to present a case study relating to the dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) ability of AA 7075‐T651 and AA 6013‐T6 by applying pin offset technique. An orthogonal array L18 was conducted to perform the overlapped weld seams using three different values of pin offset, welding speed and tool rotational speed along with two different pin profiles determine the impact of welding parameters on the tensile properties of friction stir welded joints. The nugget zone for each of overlapped weld seams exhibited a complex structure and also, the pin offset and profile also were found to have a great impact on the microstructural evolution of the nugget zone. The ultimate tensile strength, elongation at the rapture and bending strength of welded joints were measured in the ranges of 194–215 MPa, 1.79–3.34 % and 203–352 MPa. From the Taguchi based Grey relational analysis, the optimum welding condition was determined for the welded joint performed using a single fluted pin profile with the zero pin offset, tool rotational speed of 630 min^?1 and welding speed of 63 mm/min. Microstructural and macro‐structural observations revealed that welded joints exhibiting lower tensile strength are consistent of various types of defects (e. g. cracks, tunnels and cavities). The fracture location of welded joints was found to be on the heat affected zone and between the heat affected zone and AA 6013‐base metal. The tool and pin wear was not observed during the welding applications     

Challenges in dissimilar friction stir welding of aluminum 5052 and 304 stainless steel alloys

In this study, dissimilar friction stir welding of aluminum 5052 and stainless steel 304 has been carried out with different process parameters. This investigation provides a better insight regarding the defect formation of the weld joints with tilt angles ranging from 0 ° to 2.5 °. The experiments were conducted according to Taguchi L9 orthogonal array by changing the tool rotational speed, and welding speed. The tool pin was kept 70 % towards the aluminum with the tool rotational speed ranging from 800 min⁻¹ to 1200 min⁻¹ with a varying traverse speed of 5 mm/min to 15 mm/min. The bottom part of the stir zone was perfectly welded without any defects. Tunnel defect was detected just above the bottom welded surface. Microstructural analysis reveals that the weld between both materials is formed on the retreating side, whereas on the advancing side, the weld was formed with void defects. Mostly, the stir zone is filled with irregular shaped aluminum and steel parts which were detached from the base material. Several other defects such as voids, cracks, and fragmental defects were observed in the stir zone irrespective of the process parameters. It was observed from the experimental investigations that the tunnel defect can be reduced by increasing the tilt angle.     

Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints of Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy

The α + β titanium alloy, Ti–6Al–4V, was friction stir welded at a constant tool rotation speed of 400 rpm. Defect-free welds were successfully obtained with welding speeds ranging from 25 to 100 mm/min. The base material was mill annealed with an initial microstructure composed of elongated primary α and transformed β. A bimodal microstructure was developed in the stir zone during friction stir welding, while microstructure in the heat affected zone was almost not changed compared with that in the base material. An increase in welding speed increased the size of primary α in the stir zone. The weld exhibited lower hardness than the base material and the lowest hardness was found in the stir zone. Results of transverse tensile test indicated that all the joints had lower strength and elongation than the base material, and all the joints were fractured in the stir zone.     

水下搅拌摩擦焊对铝/铜接头组织与性能的影响

目的 采用搅拌摩擦焊,对比分析大气环境和水下环境下铝/铜接头的组织与性能,以期获得力学性能更优异的铝/铜焊接接头。方法 利用搅拌摩擦焊,在焊接速度为40 mm/min、旋转速度为1 000 r/min的条件下,分别在大气环境和水下环境下对厚度为9 mm的6061铝合金板和T2纯铜板进行焊接。然后,对铝/铜界面、焊核区进行扫描电镜及能谱分析,并对铝/铜界面及焊核区进行物相分析,确定产物相组成。最后,对铝/铜试样进行拉伸及硬度检测。结果 铝/铜接头均无裂纹、气孔等缺陷。铜颗粒弥散分布在焊核区,铝/铜界面形成金属间化合物层。水下搅拌摩擦焊下界面元素扩散距离明显变短,且金属间化合物厚度更薄。铝/铜接头的金属间化合物为AlCu和Al4Cu9。大气环境焊接下接头的抗拉强度为130.6 MPa,断裂方式为脆性断裂;水下焊接下接头的抗拉强度为199.5 MPa,断裂方式为韧性断裂。水下环境下的接头硬度值更高,其中热影响区的硬度最低值约为65HV。结论 水下搅拌摩擦焊铝/铜接头无裂纹、气孔等缺陷。组织上,水下搅拌摩擦焊的铝/铜接头界面元素扩散距离更短,硬脆的金属间化合物更少;性能上,水下搅拌摩擦焊的铝/铜接头强度更高,抗拉强度达到199.5 MPa,达到母材的74.4%。     

Effect of friction welding parameters on mechanical and metallurgical properties of aluminium alloy 5052–A36 steel joint

Abstract

The mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction welded joints between type 5052 aluminium alloy and type A36 steel have been studied in the present work. Joint strength increased with increasing upset pressure and friction time until it reached a crictical value. The strength of the joint settled at a lower value, compared with that of the base metal, in the case of increasing friction time, caused by the formation of an intermediate phase (intermetallic compound, oxides). The microstructure of 5052 alloy was greatly deformed near the weld interface, and underwent dynamic recrystallisation owing to frictional heat and deformation resulting from the friction welding process. Therefore, a very fine and equiaxed grain structure was observed near the interface. Elongated grains were observed outside the dynamic recrystallisation region at the peripheral part, while the A36 steel side was not deformed. The hardness of the near interface was slightly softer than that of the 5052 alloy base metal, and maximum softened width was ~8 mm from the interface. In the present work, the conditions of friction time t ₁ = 0.5 s and upset pressure P ₂ = 137.5 MPa gave maximum joint strength of 202 MPa when the friction pressure, upset time and rotation speed were fixed at 70 MPa, 5 s and 2000 rev min^-1, respectively, and these were the optimum friction welding conditions for the aluminium alloy 5052-A36 steel joint.     

Microstructure and interface characterization of dissimilar friction stir welded lap joints between Ti–6Al–4V and AISI 304

The feasibility of dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) in overlap configuration between Ti–6Al–4V alloy (Ti64) and AISI 304 austenitic stainless steels (304SS) was investigated. Sound joints were achieved when placing titanium as the upper workpiece. Joints were successfully produced by employing a welding speed of 1 mm/s and rotational speeds of 300 and 500 rpm. A lamellar microstructure was formed in the stir zone of Ti64, where grain size was found to increase with increasing rotational speed, and austenitic equiaxed grains were obtained near the interface of 304SS coupon. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) of the interface revealed a thin intermixed region and suggested intermetallic compound formation. Microhardness data in the titanium weld zone for both rotational speeds exhibited slightly lower values than the base material, with the lowest values in the heat affected zone, whereas the microhardness values in the stainless steel side around the weld center were found to be higher than those obtained for the base material.     

搅拌摩擦焊对Mg-Gd-Y-Zr合金组织与性能的影响

对一种Mg-Gd-Y-Zr合金cast-T6状态板片试样搅拌摩擦焊接后的组织与性能进行了研究。结果表明:Mg-Gd-Y-Zr合金的搅拌摩擦焊的焊核区发生动态再结晶,为等轴细晶,硬度值最高;热机影响区基体组织具有热变形特征,第二相会粗化、溶解,硬度值稍低;热影响区晶粒尺寸与母材相当,第二相粗化,硬度值低于母材。在本工作实验条件下,cast-T6铸件试样的焊接系数达0.91,且伸长率相对于母材有大幅度提高。断口形貌SEM分析显示,接头断裂模式为韧性断裂。     

Correlation between precipitate microstructure and mechanical properties in AA7075‐T6 aluminum alloy friction stir welded joints

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AA7075‐T6 aluminum alloy were examined. Grain structure and precipitate evolution in the stir zone and heat‐affected zone were evaluated using optical microscope and differential scanning calorimetry. A significant grain refinement and dissolution of η′ precipitates in the stir zone were found, but chromium‐bearing dispersoids remained nearly unchanged. The main particles in the stir zone and heat‐affected zone were η precipitates as well as Guinier‐Preston zones formed during post‐weld natural aging. The small recrystallized grains were observed in the thermo‐mechanically affected zone next to the stir zone. A W‐shaped hardness distribution where soft region was produced in the heat‐affected zone at a short distance from the stir zone were obtained. Hardness profiles of the welds were explained by precipitate distributions. Friction stir welding resulted in the reversion and coarsening of η′ precipitates. The formation of Guinier‐Preston zones in the stir zone and some parts of the heat‐affected zone during post‐weld natural aging increased the hardness. In transverse tensile specimens, fracture occurred in a location with the minimum hardness at either advancing or retreating side randomly. Further, influences of welding parameters on mechanical properties were investigated.     

R‐curve behaviour of friction stir welds in aluminium‐lithium alloy 2195

ABSTRACT The fracture resistance of friction stir welds in 2195‐T8 is described in this paper. R‐curves were produced for several crack planes, parallel to the welding direction and situated at varying distances from the weld centreline. The friction stir weld was also characterized by hardness and tensile testing. Fracture resistance of the friction stir weld is compared to the base metal and to a variable polarity plasma arc weld. Results show that the material in and around the friction stir weld is tougher than the base metal and the variable polarity plasma arc weld. The friction stir weld fracture performance is discussed in the light of the observed hardness and fractographic data presented.     

Microstructure characteristics of thick aluminum alloy plate joints welded by fiber laser

It's difficult to weld high strength thick plate since the groove is huge when using traditional arc welding, and the weld tends to be softened and large deformation could occur after multi-layer welding. All of these can affect the industrial application of high strength thick plate wielding. In this case, developing advanced welding technology and welding material is necessary to optimize the microstructure and performance of the welds. Fiber laser has many advantages such as good monochrome and high quality laser beam. In order to decrease the heat damage to the base metal from the welding heat source, low heat input is employed for welding thick plate. Fiber laser is applied in the welding of 20 mm thick Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy with super narrow gap filler wire. The microstructure comparison of Al–Mg–Mn alloy and Al–Mg–Mn–Zr–Er alloy welded joints reveals that a huge amount of fine equiaxed grains is formed in the weld zone of Zr and Er micro-alloying Al–Mg–Mn alloy welding wire and a great number of precipitation strengthening phases are precipitated in the weld zone after the heat treatment of welded joints in the entirety.     

Effects of tool rotational and welding speed on microstructure and mechanical properties of bobbin-tool friction-stir welded Mg AZ31

The effects of rotational and welding speeds on the microstructure and mechanical properties of bobbin-tool friction stir welded (BT-FSW) Mg AZ31 were investigated. The results indicated that the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) consisted of equiaxed grains, which were inconsistent with the deformed, rotated and elongated grains found in the TMAZs of bobbin-tool friction stir welded Al alloys and friction stir welded Al and Mg alloys. The average grain size increased as the ratio of the rotational speed to welding speed increased. Excellent welds with no degradation in hardness were produced using a low heat input. Mechanical tests revealed that the ultimate tensile strengths gradually increased with increasing welding speed while keeping the rotational speed constant. The rotational and welding speeds had only slight influences on the yield stress and fracture elongation.     

压铸态AZ91D镁合金搅拌摩擦焊接头微观组织研究

采用搅拌摩擦焊工艺对4mm厚的压铸态AZ91D镁合金进行对接工艺实验,搅拌头旋转速率1500r/min,焊接速率120mm/min;使用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对焊接接头微观组织进行了研究。结果表明:焊缝外观成形美观,但内部存在贯穿型隧道状孔洞缺陷;焊核区为典型的变形-再结晶组织,为细小、均匀的等轴晶;机械-热影响区为变形-部分再结晶组织,热影响区组织形貌与母材相近但伴有轻微的长大现象;焊核区与机械-热影响区的过渡具有以下特征:在前进侧呈现"突变"特征,在后退侧呈现"渐变"特征。     

6061 铝基碳化硅复合材料搅拌摩擦焊工艺研究

目的研究搅拌道次对6061铝基碳化硅复合材料的影响。方法对6061铝基碳化硅复合材料进行了搅拌摩擦焊实验。结果获得了型面良好,表面光滑的焊接截面,焊核区组织为细小的等轴晶,热机影响区为弯曲变形的晶粒,热影响区组织发生了明显的粗化。结论搅拌次数越多,Si C颗粒分布越均匀,热机影响区与热影响区附近硬度最低,热影响区硬度较低,焊核区硬度比母材稍高。     

Effect of FSW parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of AM20 welds

This paper aims to demonstrate the successful friction stir welding (FSW) conditions of AM20 magnesium alloy. The maximum yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of weld were found to be 75% and 65% of the base metal strength, respectively. The maximum bending angle of the welded joint was 45°. Observations revealed that less plunging depth, high shoulder diameter, and low tool rotational speed and welding speed give better tensile properties. Maximum temperature was observed at 1?mm away from the tool shoulder toward the advancing side. Micro-hardness variation is found to be decreasing along the depth of the weld, and nugget zone (NZ) gives the higher hardness values when compared with base material (BM) and other welded zones. Needle-like grains of the BM became equiaxed grains due to grain recrystalized by the FSW process. The grains in the NZ were finer than thermo-mechanically affected zone and almost same size of grains observed at bottom, middle, and top of the NZ.