A review of friction stir welding parameters, process and application fields

Abstract

It is important to join materials for systems that require high-performance and to minimize the defects that may occur during this joining. Welding is the most common way for joining materials but for lightweight and similar/ dissimilar materials, Friction Stir Welding preferable for its high-performance joining properties. Lightweight and durable materials such as aluminum alloys are widely used in sectors such as defense industry, aerospace industry, automotive industry, and high-speed train manufacturing. Some of these materials cannot be welded by conventional methods due to their high thermal conductivity and low melting point. In welding processes, material properties are expected to be as close as possible to base material. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a joining method that provides welding below the melting point of materials that cannot be welded by conventional methods or where the welding process causes the mechanical structure of the material to deteriorate. In this study, Friction Stir Welding process, advantages and disadvantages and application fields of Friction Stir Welding were examined.