Texture and microstructure evolution and mechanical properties during friction stir welding of extruded aluminum billets

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 597; pp. 314 - 323
• Main Authors: Cho, Jae-Hyung, Jae Kim, Won, Gil Lee, Chang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 12.03.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum alloys; Aluminum base alloys; Applied sciences; Billets; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; EBSD; Exact sciences and technology; Friction stir welding; Hardness; Heat affected zone; Joining, thermal cutting: metallurgical aspects; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Microstructure; Other heat and thermomechanical treatments; Physics; Solid solution, precipitation, and dispersion hardening; aging; Surface layer; Texture; Texture and microstructure; Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties; Welding; Mechanical properties; Aluminum alloys; Friction stir welding; Texture and microstructure; EBSD; Deformation; Uniaxial tension stress; Hardness; Microhardness; Heat treatments; Solid solution hardening; Weld; Recrystallization texture; Hardness testing; Aging; Extrusion; Heat affected zone; Copper; Microstructure
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2013.12.087

Extruded, solid solution-hardened A5083, and aging heat-treated A6082, 15mm-thick aluminum alloys were separately welded by friction stir butt-welding (FSW). The evolution of microstructure and texture, as well as variations in the strength and hardness, was examined in detail. The microstructure of the as-extruded billets of both alloys possessed major deformation textures of Brass and Copper components, as well as minor recrystallization texture of a Cube component. The initial microstructure drastically changed during the FSW process. Uniaxial tension and micro-hardness tests were also carried out to determine the mechanical behavior of the welded regions. The features of each region of the base metal (BM), heat-affected zone (HAZ), thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), and stir zone (SZ) were investigated regarding variation in the microstructure and hardness. The differences between the two alloys, in terms of their microstructures and strength and hardness levels, were compared.