The Effects of Heat Treatment and Cold Working on the Microstructure of Aluminum Alloys Welded by Friction Stir Welding (FSW) Technique

Abstract

The application of hot deformation during Friction Stir Welding (FSW) gives rise to produce a weld nugget consisting usually of dynamically recrystallized grains whose size is substantially lower than that of the base material. In the present study, several specimens with different conditions were first prepared using 2024 and 5083 aluminum alloys, which were then welded with FSW method. The microstructures of weld nugget in both series of specimens were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The specimen of 2024 with anneal (O) and artificial aging (T6) conditions, and type 5083 with anneal (O), 30% and 50% cold work conditions were friction stir welded. Grain size distribution, hardness and temperature profiles in the welded zones were determined in order to obtain the relationship between the grain structure and the hardness profile in these regions. In each alloy, the average grain size in the weld nuggets was identical. The hardness of nugget zones in each alloy was the same due to their similar microstructures. According to the results obtained in this investigation, the initial microstructure showed no considerable effect on final microstructure and hardness of the weld nuggets, which this effect may be attributed to continuous dynamic recrystallization phenomenon.