Abstract
Graphite/aluminum metal matrix composite (MMC) joints are successfully fabricated by friction stir spot welding (FSSW). During lap-joining processes of aluminum alloy sheets by FSSW, graphite/water colloid is applied between the tool shoulder and the upper plate. The Raman spectrum of the FSSW joint confirms that graphite/aluminum MMC is successfully induced in the stir zone. Quasi-static shear tests and micro hardness measurements of the FSSW joint also show that the strength and toughness of the joint are significantly improved by inducing graphite/aluminum MMC in the stir zone. The results of the present study suggest that the mechanical properties of structural components joined by spot welds can be easily enhanced by adopting MMC joints by FSSW, instead of changing the material or increasing the number of joints.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. C. Lin, S. H. Lin, J. Pan, T. Pan, J. M. Nicholson and M. A. Garman, Microstructures and failure mechanisms of spot friction welds in lap-shear specimens of aluminum 6111-T4 sheets, Proc. of SAE World Congress, Detroit, USA (2004).
P. Thornton, A. Krause and R. Davies, Aluminum spot weld, Weld. J., 75 (1996) 101–108.
A. Gean, S. A. Westgate, J. C. Kucza and J. C. Ehrstrom, Static and Fatigue Behavior of Spot-Welded 5182-0 Aluminum Alloy Sheet, Weld. J., 78 (1999) 80–86.
T. Iwashita, Method and apparatus for joining, US Patent 6,601,751, published 5 August (2003).
T. Iwashita, Method and apparatus for joining, EP Patent 1,149,656, published 19 October (2005).
H. Badarinarayan, F. Hunt and K. Okamoto, Friction stir welding and processing, in Friction Stir Welding and processing (ed. R.S. Mishra et al.), ASM International (2007) 235–272.
R. Hancock, Friction welding of aluminum cuts energy Cost by 99%, Weld. J., 83 (2004) 40–45.
L. Y. Wei and T. W. Nelson, Correlation of microstructures and process variables in FSW HSLA-65 steel, Weld. J., 90 (2011) 95s–101s.
Y. Tsunekawa, H. Suzuki and Y. Genma, Application of ultrasonic vibration to in situ MMC process by electromagnetic melt stirring, Mater. Des., 22 (2001) 467–472.
Y. Yang, J. Lan and X. Li, Study on bulk aluminum matrix nano-composite fabricated by ultra sonic dispersion of nanosized SiC particles in molten aluminum alloy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 380 (2004) 378–383.
R. George, K. T. Kashyap, R. Rahul and S. Yamdagni, Strengthening in carbon nanotube/aluminum (CNT/Al) composites, Scr. Mater., 53 (2005) 1159–1163.
R. Zhong, H. Cong and P. Hou, Fabrication of nano-Al based composites reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes, Carbon, 41 (2003) 848–851.
T. Kuzumaki, K. Miyazawa, H. Ichinose and K. Ito, Processing of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite, J. Mater. Res., 13 (1998) 2445–2449.
R. S. Mishra, Z. Y. Ma and I. Charit, Friction stir processing: a novel technique for fabrication of surface composite, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 341 (2003) 307–310.
L. B. Johannes, L. L. Yowell, E. Sosa, S. Arepalli and R. S. Mishra, Survivability of single-walled carbon nanotubes during friction stir processing, Nanotechnol., 17 (2006) 3081–3084.
Y. Morisada, H. Fujii, T. Nagaoka and M. Fukusumi, MWCNTs/AZ31 surface composites fabricated by friction stir processing, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 419 (2006) 344–348.
R. Sengupta, M. Bhattacharya, S. Bandyopadhyay and A. K. Bhowmick, A review on the mechanical and electrical properties of graphite and modified graphite reinforced polymer composites, Prog. Polym. Sci., 36 (2011) 638–670.
A. C. Ferrari, Raman spectroscopy of graphene and graphite: Disorder, electron-phononcoupling, doping and nonadiabatic effects, Solid State Commun., 143 (2007) 47–57.
V. H. Pham, T. V. Cuong, E. W. Shin, S. H. Hur, J. S. Kim, J. S. Chung and E. J. Kim, Fast and simple fabrication of a large transparent chemically-converted graphene film by spray coating, Carbon, 48 (2010) 1945–1951.
N. T. Kumbhar, S. K. Sahoo, I. Samajdar, G. K. Dey and K. Bhanumurthy, Microstructure and microtextural studies of friction stir welded aluminum alloy 5052, Mater. Des., 32 (2011) 1657–1666.
Z. Zhang, X. Yang, J. Zhang, G. Zhou, X. Xu and B. Zou, Effect of welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir spot welded 5052 alumi num alloy, Mater. Des., 32 (2011) 4461–4470.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Recommended by Associate Editor Vikas Tomar
Chi-Sung Jeon obtained B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in2010 from University of Ulsan. He also obtained M.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 2012 from the same university. He is currently working as a researcher at Research and Technology Center, Hyundai Steel, South Korea.
Sung-Tae Hong obtained B.S. degree and M.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1993 and 1995, respectively, from Yonsei University. He obtained Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering in 2005 from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is currently an associate professor at School of Mechanical Engineering of University of Ulsan, Ulsan, South Korea.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jeon, CS., Jeong, YH., Hong, ST. et al. Mechanical properties of graphite/aluminum metal matrix composite joints by friction stir spot welding. J Mech Sci Technol 28, 499–504 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-1153-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-1153-0