TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 953/2010
by C Lee and C Goodfellow
Background
Although friction stir welding (FSW) is ideally suited to joining 2xxx and 7xxx series aerospace alloys from the point of view of avoiding cracking and developing suitable mechanical properties, the corrosion resistance is reduced and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of friction stir welds in these alloys is increased compared with the parent material.
The aim of this report is to examine the SCC performance of AA7050 aluminium alloy friction stir welds made with different process parameters and to compare with that of an arc weld made in the same alloy.
Objective
To compare the SCC susceptibilities of FSW joints made with a range of thermal cycles and that of an arc weld made in 7050-T7541 aluminium alloy.