Some Studies on Friction Stir Welding of Dissimilar Alloys

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state Welding Technique. The non-consumable tool, with a profiled probe and shoulder, is rotated and plunged into the interface between two work pieces. It then traverses along the joint line, causing the material to heat and soften. The shoulder also acts to contain this plasticized material, which is mechanically mixed to create a solid phase weld. Other materials that have been joined with FSW include magnesium, titanium, copper, nickel and steel alloys, while plastics and metal matrix composites (MMC) have also been explored. This process has also been shown to be able to join dissimilar combinations of these materials including aluminium to steel.FSW has been used for a variety of applications across industries ranging from aerospace to shipbuilding and rail to electronics, including EV battery trays. TWI has gone on to develop extensive knowledge of the friction stir welding process over many years of research and development. This has led to the creation of a number of variants and associated processes, such as Bobbin FSW, Stationary Shoulder FSW, Supported FSW and AdStir.