Some characteristics of friction welded joints between particulate alumina composite material and 6061 aluminium alloy

Summary

Friction welded joints were made with 6061 aluminium alloy and aluminium alloy composite material (MMC) containing 16.1% vol. dispersed particulate alumina and the structures and mechanical properties of these joints were examined.

For a short friction time the heat affected zone of a joint was formed almost parallel to the weld interface; however, with increasing friction time it became shaped like a concave lens such that the centre was thin and the outer circumference was thick. The hardness of the weld interface showed a lower value than that of both base materials and the softened zone was observed on both the MMC and the 6061 alloy side. The tensile strength of such a joint was 75% of that of the MMC base material and the maximum elongation value was 60% of that of the MMC. The fracture position after joint tensile testing was, in either case, at the heat affected zone in the vicinity of the weld interface on the MMC side. The joint impact values achieved were similar to or greater than that of the MMC base material.