Impact of travel speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties of adjustable-gap bobbin-tool friction stir welded Al–Mg joints

The butt welds of 4-mm thick 5A06 aluminum alloy plates were produced by adjustable-gap bobbin-tool friction stir travel with travel speeds of 200, 300, and 400 mm/min in this study.The microstructure was studied using optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD).Tensile tests and microhardness measurements were performed to identify the effect of the travel speed on the joint mechanical properties.Sound joints were obtained at 200 mm/min while voids were present at different positions of the joints as the travel speed increased.The EBSD results show that the grain size, high angle grain boundaries, and density of geometrically necessary dislocations in different regions of the joint vary depending on the recovery and recrystallization behavior.Specific attention was given to the relationship between the local microstructure and mechanical properties.Microhardness measurements show that the average hardness of the stir zone(SZ) was greater than that of the base material, which was only affected slightly by the travel speed.The tensile strength of the joint decreased with increasing travel speed and the maximal strength efficiency reached 99%.

Analysis of local microstructure and strengthening mechanisms in adjustable-gap bobbin tool friction stir welds of Al-Mg

The bobbin tool friction stir welding process was used to join 6 mm thick 5A06 aluminum alloy plates.Optical microscope was used to characterize the microstructure.The electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)identified the effect of non-homogeneous microstructure on the tensile properties.It was observed that the grain size in the top of the stir zone(SZ)is smaller than that in the centre region.The lowest ratio of recrystallization and density of the geometrically-necessary dislocations(GNDs)in the SZ was found in the middle near the thermo-mechanically affected zone(TMAZ)being 22%and 1.15×10^(−13) m^(−2),respectively.The texture strength of the heat-affected zone(HAZ)is the largest,followed by that in the SZ,with the lowest being in the TMAZ.There were additional interfaces developed which contributed to the strengthening mechanism,and their effect on tensile strength was analysed.The tensile tests identified the weakest part in the joint at the interfaces,and the specific reduction value is about 93 MPa.