Solid-State Welding of Aluminium Alloys

Abstract

AbstractAluminium alloys in the 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX series are extensively used in automotive and aerospace sectors since these materials possess inherent characteristics like high strength, resistance to fracture and fatigue. The requirement for reduction in weight makes the use of aluminium more indispensable in these areas of application and these areas of application require the material to be joined (welded). In the conventional fusion welding process, the aluminium alloys are categorized as materials difficult to weld. To overcome this issue a popular energy-efficient solid-state welding technique has evolved known as Friction stir welding (FSW) and it is further evolution known as friction stir processing (FSP). FSW is considered to be the most important metal joining technique to be invented over the last three decades, whereas FSP was developed to infuse microstructural changes in metallic materials. This chapter is written keeping in mind two main concepts the first being scientific basics of how microstructure evolution affects the structure-property relationship, e.g. tensile strength, hardness, etc., and the second concept being the technological development, of late with the high industrialization. This chapter will serve as a fine balance between the information related to aluminium alloys and how it responds to the solid-state welding process.KeywordsAluminium alloysSolid-state weldingFriction stir weldingFriction stir processingMechanical propertiesMicrostructure