Assisted cooling approach for FSW of pure copper

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the effect of active cooling with compressed air on microstructure and the mechanical properties of pure copper joint fabricated via friction stir welding (FSW) process. Three-mm-thick copper plates were FSWed at tool rotation speed of 2000 rpm and weld speed of 30 mm/min. Compressed air of 10 psi (68.9 kPa) pressure and 20 psi (137.8 kPa) pressure were aimed at the weld line. Compared to Normal FSW the tensile strength and ductility of joints was increased by 19 MPa (10.79%) and 4 % (30.76%) respectively using 10 psi compressed air pressure. On further cooling using 20 psi compressed air, these values decreased by 32 MPa (18.18%) and 4.65% (35.76%). Active cooling resulted in fine grain structure in the joint nugget zone.

KEYWORDS:

• FSW
• pure copper
• microstructure
• mechanical property
• compressed air assisted FSW

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the authorities of Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar for providing the facilities to carry out this work. The second author (V. J. Badheka) wishes to express deep thanks and appreciation to the Board for Research in Fusion Science and Technology (BRFST), Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar for providing financial support under the research project (Project number- NFP/MAT/A10/04).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [Board for Research in Fusion Science and Technology (BRFST), Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar NFP/MAT/A10/04].