Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded Mg/Mg‐ and Mg/Al‐Joints

Abstract

AbstractIn a mobile world weight reduction is a predominant target of innovative products. In this context appropriate joining techniques are necessary for the integration of lightweight metals in complex mechanical components. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a newly established well suited process to realize high‐quality lightweight metal joints in solid state. In a research project of WKK the friction stir weldability of similar joints using die casted AZ91‐Mg‐alloy and MRI‐Mg‐alloys was investigated. Additionally the joining of hybrid joints between AZ91 and AA5454 aluminum alloy was performed. To describe and optimize the FSW‐process the welding temperatures and welding forces were recorded online during the process. The investigations of the monotonic properties of AZ91/AZ91‐joints and MRI/MRI‐joints yielded in tensile strength values at the level of the parent materials. For dissimilar joints an extreme increase of the nugget hardness was measured. By SEM investigations and EDX element mappings it could be proved that this is caused by intermetallic phases positioned as thin interlayers in the contact area between the Mg‐ and the Al‐alloy. As a consequence, in hybrid joints failures occur predominantly along these interlayers. Finally, for similar and dissimilar welds corrosion experiments in 5 mass% NaCl solution were carried out. The investigations showed that the nugget area was more susceptible to corrosion then the base material. To understand the corrosion behavior the affected areas were analyzed using SEM and EDX.