Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloys AA1100

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new solid state welding process which is used for butt joints. FSW was invented by The Welding Institute, Cambridge, UK in 1991 and has emerged as a new process for welding of aluminum alloys. This process has made possible to weld a number of aluminum alloys that were previously not recommended (2000 series & copper containing 7000 series aluminium alloys) for welding. Because the material subjected to FSW does not melt and re-solidify, the resultant weld metal is free of porosity with lower distortion. An added advantage is that it is an environmentally friendly process. FSW is a solid state, localized thermo mechanical, joining process. In FSW, a non-consumable rotating shouldered-pin-tool is plunged into the interface between two plates being welded, until the shoulder touches the surface of the base material, and then tool is transverse along the weld line.