Research on the friction stir welding of Titanium Grade 1

Military University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, 2 gen. W. Urbanowicza str., 00-908 Warsaw, Poland

^a Corresponding author: robert.kosturek@wat.edu.pl

Abstract

In this research the three different FSW joints of Titanium Grade 1 have been performed by using tool made of W25Re alloy with different welding velocity values. In order to investigate the influence of FSW process on microstructure of joined material the light microscope observations have been performed on the etched samples. It has been reported that significant grain refinement occurs in the stir zone in all analyzed samples. On the other hand, occurrence of weld defects, such as tunneling defect and kissing bond has been noticed. The microhardness analysis of the cross-section of the obtained joints indicates on microhardness increasing in the stir zone by 40-60 HV0,1 compared to the base material. Peak hardness of stir zone in the researched samples has tendency to decrease along with increasing of welding velocity. The strength of obtained joints was designated in the uniaxial tensile tests and confronted with strength of base material. Despite the occurrence of weld defects the established joints efficiency contains in range 92-94%. It has been stated that Young’s modulus of Titanium Grade 1 FSW joints is 15-19% lower in comparison to the base material. At the same time, no significant influence of FSW on the ductility of material were observed.