Effect of TIG and FSW welding processes on mechanical properties of Al-4.2Mg-0.6Mn-0.4Sc-0.1Zr alloy

Abstract

In this study, friction stir welding (FSW) and Tungsten gas welding (TIG) processes were used to weld 5 mm thick Al-4.2Mg-0.6Mn-0.4Sc-0.1Zr alloy plates. The FSwelds and TIG welds were tested for mechanical properties (hardness, ultimate tensile strength, bending strength and impact strength) by means of vicker’s hardness machine, universal testing machine and impact test machine respectively. The strength of the base material was higher, compared to the strength of the FSW and TIG welded joints. The strength of the TIG welded joint decreased, compared to the strength of the FSW welded joint. The microstructure features were also observed for base material with the aid of metallurgical microscope and compared the same with the microstructures of FSW and TIG welded joints. FSW change the material strength due to fine-grain refinement in the stir zone in Al-4.2Mg-0.6Mn-0.4Sc-0.1Zr alloy and therefore FS welded joint exhibited 91.6% joint efficiency followed by the TIG welded joint of 69.8%.