Characterisation of FSW Joints of Aluminium and Titanium Alloys: A Review

Abstract

Abstract

This paper presents a review on friction stir welding of different aluminum and titanium alloys. Aluminum alloys are most widely used in automotive, aerospace and ship building industries as high strength-to-weight ratio materials. Titanium alloys are also attractive in these fields due to their high specific strength and good corrosion resistance. In some special applications, the complementary characteristics of Ti and Al are required, such as increased strength, low weight and cost. Therefore, joining of Al alloys and Ti alloys is an emergent problem to be solved in industrial application. However, it is sufficiently difficult to obtain sound dissimilar welds of these two kinds of alloys because of the numerous differences in their performance, including crystal microstructure, melting point, heat conductivity and coefficient of linear expansion, etc. Using traditional fusion welding method, Aluminum element is severely lost at the temperature below the melting point of Ti. So, it is difficult to weld by conventional welding technique which is a major drawback and source of problem. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a relatively new solid state welding technique for similar and dissimilar materials, especially on current interest with aluminum and titanium alloys. Moreover, there is always a scope for study of FSW process parameters which gives sound dissimilar welded joints. Hence, the present review discovers the previous studies those are conducted on Al-Ti welded joints specifically focusing on effect on process parameters on its mechanical properties. Finally, the review would conclude with the gaps existing in the previous studies and provide recommendations for further studies.

Keywords: FSW, Aluminium, Titanium, welding, microstructure, heat conductivity 

Cite this Article

Karthik S.N, U.N Kempaiah. Characterisation of FSW Joints of Aluminium and Titanium Alloys: A Review. Journal of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering. 2018; 8(3):     25–29p.