Corrosion testing of aluminium alloy friction stir welds - literature survey

TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 773/2004 

Chi Lee

Background

The friction stir welding (FSW) process was invented at TWI in 1991, and since then, it has been developed for joining a range of aluminium alloys. 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx series alloys have all been successfully welded using the FSW process, and in a number of different geometries. Although many studies have been conducted on friction stir welds, they have mainly focused on process development and investigations into the mechanical properties of the welds. Compared to this, only a limited number of studies investigating the corrosion resistance of friction stir welds in aluminium alloys have been undertaken.

Objectives

To review and summarise the current literature on corrosion behaviour of aluminium alloy friction stir welds.