TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 760/2003
M E Nunn, P L Threadgill
Background
Friction stir welding has grown from a laboratory curiosity to an established manufacturing process for aluminium alloys within a decade of its invention. Such rapid acceptance is unusual, and is a reflection of the advantages of the process, and the quality of joints which it is able to produce. A significant impetus in the early days was the ability to weld the high strength 2xxx and 7xxx alloys which are generally difficult to weld by fusion processes. However, the process is now displacing fusion methods for welding alloys such as 5xxx and 6xxx which are weldable by fusion processes.
This overview looks at the current state of the art of friction stir welding, highlighting its advantages, disadvantages, characteristics and commercial status, and investigating progress in understanding some of the more fundamental aspects.
Objective
The objective of this report is:
- To provide an up to date review of friction stir welding.