Abstract
The paper describes the influence of the friction stir welding travel speed on the mechanical properties of the butt joints of copper plates. The results of static and fatigue tests of the base material (Cu-ETP R220) and welded specimens produced at various travel speeds were compared, considering a loading applied both parallel and perpendicularly to the rolling direction of the plates. The mechanical properties of the FSW joints were evaluated with respect to parameters of plates’ material in the delivery state and after recrystallisation annealing. The strength parameters of friction stir welding joints were compared with the data on tungsten inert gas welded joints of copper plates available in the literature. The results of microhardness tests and fractographic analysis of tested joints are also presented. Based on the above test results, it was shown that although in the whole range of considered traverse speeds (from 40 to 80 mm/min), comparable properties were obtained for FSW copper joints in terms of their visual and microstructural evaluation, their static and especially fatigue parameters were different, most apparent in the nine-fold greater observed average fatigue life. The fatigue tests turned out to be more sensitive criteria for evaluation of the FSW joints’ qualities.
Highlights
Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively novel technique for joining materials, and thanks to the wide possibilities of application, it has been gaining popularity rapidly recent years [1]
The fatigue test results for base material specimens for both orientations are compared in the Theoffatigue test results for14
The properties of pure copper FSW joints were studied by means of microhardness, tensile and fatigue tests as well as microstructure and fractography analysis
Summary
Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively novel technique for joining materials, and thanks to the wide possibilities of application, it has been gaining popularity rapidly recent years [1]. This technique can be used as one of few methods for joining metals that are hard to weld or have physicochemical properties significantly different from each other, i.e., in cases when the use of conventional fusion welding is strongly limited and braze welding does not yield sufficient joint strength [2].
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