Abstract
Dissimilar joints between die-cast AZ31 and extruded Al6061-T6 were joined using friction stir welding technology at a constant transverse speed (50 mm/min) and rotation rate of 800 or 1000 rpm. The flow patterns, microstructure evolution and intermetallic compounds in dissimilar joints were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The relationship between microstructure and tensile properties was analyzed. The microhardness distribution along the horizontal centerline in cross section was investigated. Local flow without obvious mixing existed between Mg and Al metals in the tool shoulder-affected zone. For the tool-pin-affected zone, two typical zones, namely, the “extrusion zone” and “flow zone” existed because of the different flow modes of the plastic metals. The phase analysis showed that intermetallic compounds, including Al12Mg17 and Al3Mg2 formed in banded structures. Phase analysis showed that a joint with welding parameters of 800 rpm and 50 mm/min (Joint-500) had good mechanical properties because of the more uniform microstructure distribution and fewer intermetallic compounds. Fracture analysis indicated some microvoids and lamellate intermetallic compounds in the fracture surface of the joint with welding parameters of 1000 rpm and 50 mm/min (Joint-1000), which deteriorated its tensile strength significantly.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51275332), the Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of Taiyuan University of Science and Technology (No.20192020 and No.20182055) and the Fund for Shanxi Key Subjects Construction. We thank Laura Kuhar, PhD, from Liwen Bianji, Edanz Group China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.
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Li, Y., Qin, F. & Wu, Z. Flow Patterns, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ31/Al6061 Dissimilar Friction Stir-Welded Joints. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 28, 5415–5424 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-04322-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-04322-6