Friction Stir Welding of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are used extensively in aerospace industry where there is a critical need for material with high strength-to–weight ratio and high elevate temperature properties. Friction stir welding (FSW) is a new solid state welding process in which a cylindrical–shouldered tool with an extended pin is rotated and gradually plunged into the joint between the workpieces to be welded. The material is frictionally heated to a temperature at which it becomes more plastic but no melting of the blanks to be welded is reached therefore the presence of defects typically observed in and close to the welding seam is strongly reduced. The final result is the improvement of the mechanical performances of the welded joints even in some materials with poor fusion weldability. In this paper the authors analyze the microstructure of FSW joints of Ti-6Al-4V processed at the same travel speed (50 mm/min) and at different rotation speed (300-500rpm). The microstructure of base material (BM) is not homogenous. It is characterized by distorted α/ β lamellar microstructure together with smashed zone of fragmented β layer and β retained grain boundary phase. The BM has been welded in the as received state, without any previous heat treatment. The microstructure of the transverse section of joints is not homogeneous. Close to the top of weld cross sections a much finer microstructure than the initial condition has been observed while in the center of the joints the microstructure is mixed and less refined.