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Effect of rotational speed and double-sided welding in friction stir–welded dissimilar joints of aluminum alloy and steel

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Abstract

The effect of tool rotational speed and double-sided welding in friction stir welding of aluminum alloy AA5083 and GL A36 steel was investigated. Defect-free joints were obtained in single- and double-sided welding using a rotational speed of 300 rpm. The increase in rotational speed or the application of double-sided welding increased the amount of dispersed steel particles in the aluminum stir zone, which stimulated void formation in the joint. In spite of the grain refinement in the stir zone, hardness is similar for all weld zones of the aluminum alloy, increasing significantly just in the steel near the weld interface due to severe work hardening. Besides this, the studied rotational speeds and double-sided welding did not exert any significant influence on the tensile strength of the joints, despite that a symmetric joint configuration with the welding through the full material thickness is guaranteed in the double-sided welding. The formation of intermetallic compound (IMC) layers is observed due to interdiffusion in the aluminum/steel interface. Investigations via scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveal that the IMC layer with 300–400 nm thickness is composed of Fe2Al5 or FeAl3 throughout the entire weld interface.

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Notes

  1. This implies that the end point of the first welding pass (exit hole) represents the start point for the second welding pass (plunge position).

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Funding

This study was financed in part by the support of the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior — Brasil (CAPES) — Finance Code 001. The authors also thank the grant #2019/04613–3, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Materials Mechanics, Solid State Materials Processing, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany

    Luciano A. Bergmann & Benjamin Klusemann

  2. Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (PPGCEM/UFSCar), Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235 SP-310, Sao Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Bruna Fernanda Batistão, Nelson Guedes de Alcântara & Piter Gargarella

  3. Department of Materials Engineering (DEMa/UFSCar), Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235 SP-310, Sao Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Nelson Guedes de Alcântara & Piter Gargarella

  4. Center of Characterization and Development of Materials (CCDM), Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235 SP-310, Sao Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Piter Gargarella

  5. Institute of Product and Process Innovation, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, Lüneburg, 21335, Germany

    Benjamin Klusemann

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  1. Luciano A. Bergmann
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Correspondence to Bruna Fernanda Batistão.

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Bergmann, L.A., Batistão, B.F., de Alcântara, N.G. et al. Effect of rotational speed and double-sided welding in friction stir–welded dissimilar joints of aluminum alloy and steel. Weld World 66, 1747–1756 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40194-022-01333-1

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