Journal of Welding Science

The friction stir spot welding (FSSW) process is a solid-state welding technique recognized as one of the most significant advancements in metal joining over the past decade. In this study, the effects of rotational speed and tool contact time, with a unique design different from previous research, on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 5754 series aluminum alloy were investigated. The workpiece was clamped using a specialized fixture on a radial drilling machine, and welding operations were performed using a FSSW machine at different rotational speeds and various tool contact times. Subsequently, the microstructure, microhardness, and tensile-shear strength of the welded spot region were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the tool rotational speed and prolonging the tool contact time led to an improvement of approximately 105% in the tensile-shear strength. According to statistical analyses, the factors of rotational speed and tool contact time significantly affected the shear strength with a confidence level greater than 95%; however, statistical analyses revealed different results regarding the relationship between rotational speed, contact time, and hardness.

The weldability of the superalloy Inconel 738LC is compromised by its susceptibility to heat-affected zone (HAZ) liquation cracking, a consequence of its high gamma-prime (γ') precipitate strength and the formation of low-melting-point eutectic phases. This study investigates the impact of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) current mode—comparing continuous current with pulsed current—on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and overall weldability of IN738LC. Through room-temperature tensile testing, Vickers hardness measurements, and microstructural analysis via optical and electron microscopy, it was demonstrated that pulsed current, particularly at higher frequencies, substantially mitigates liquation cracking and improves joint integrity. The pulsed technique introduces controlled thermal fluctuations that reduce the effective heat input, promoting a transition from columnar to equiaxed dendritic solidification, minimizing interdendritic segregation, and refining the distribution of MC carbides. Consequently, the weld metal exhibits enhanced tensile strength, ductility, and hardness. These findings establish pulsed GTAW as an effective strategy for suppressing cracking and improving the performance of IN738LC welded joints.

The Ti-6242 alloy is of particular significance in additive manufacturing due to its high thermal resistance. However, components fabricated from this alloy using the electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) process often exhibit poor surface quality, primarily resulting from the layer-by-layer fabrication nature and and the presence of partially melted powder particles. In this study, laser polishing was employed to enhance the surface characteristics of EB-PBF fabricated Ti-6242 specimens using three laser powers (195, 260, and 325 W) and two scanning speeds (4.5 and 3 mm/s). The effects of these parameters on surface roughness, microstructure, and mechanical properties were evaluated through surface profilometry, metallography, hardness, and wear tests. The results indicated that the average surface roughness decreased by up to 93%, from 9.36 µm to 0.61 µm. Moreover, the initial α and β phases transformed into a fine, martensitic α′ phase within the polished layer, leading to a 33% increase in hardness—from 380 to 506 HV—and a significant improvement in wear resistance. Consequently, optimal adjustment of laser polishing parameters can simultaneously reduce surface roughness and enhance the mechanical performance of Ti-6242 components.

In this study, the Friction Stir Welding process was employed to repair artificial cracks and grooves in 7075 aluminum alloy. Samples with different groove depths (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mm) were prepared and evaluated through experimental tests, metallographic analysis, tensile testing, and numerical simulation using Abaqus software. The results showed that the Friction Stir Welding successfully repaired the defects without creating voids or surface irregularities. Microstructural observations in the stir zone revealed that dynamic recrystallization led to the formation of fine and homogeneous grains, resulting in improved hardness and tensile strength. The specimen with a 1 mm groove depth exhibited the best mechanical performance, with a maximum hardness of approximately 109 HV and the highest tensile strength among all samples. Conversely, samples with 0.5 and 2 mm groove depths showed void formation and reduced strength due to insufficient or excessive heat input and uneven material flow. Both experimental and simulation results confirmed that a groove depth of 1 mm provides optimal conditions for defect repair in 7075 aluminum alloy.

In this study, an AA5083/Al12Mo surface composite containing approximately 10 vol.% of pre-synthesized molybdenum aluminide particles was fabricated using Friction Stir Processing (FSP) under optimized conditions, including six passes, a rotational speed of 1000 rpm, and a traverse speed of 52 mm/min. Multiple FSP passes reduced the particle size from about 20 µm to nearly 1.7 µm and improved their distribution uniformity, while simultaneously refining the matrix grains and enhancing the strain-hardening capability. These microstructural improvements led to a ~16% increase in tensile strength compared to the unreinforced FSPed alloy and ~20% relative to the as-received base metal, along with ~50% and ~63% hardness enhancement in the 4-pass and 6-pass samples, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the strengthening mechanisms revealed that strain hardening contributed the most to the overall strength increment, and the presence of reinforcing particles delayed the onset of the Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) serrated flow. Fractography indicated a mixed fracture mode consisting of particle fracture, particle–matrix decohesion, and matrix rupture. Furthermore, corrosion tests demonstrated a decrease in corrosion resistance, mainly due to the discontinuity of the protective aluminum oxide layer and the formation of defects at particle–matrix interfaces caused by severe plastic deformation.

In this study, the effects of diffusion-bonding temperature and time on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Al₀.₅CoCrFeMnTi₀.₅ high-entropy alloy coatings applied on A283 plain carbon steel were investigated. The coatings were produced by diffusion bonding using the spark plasma sintering method, in which high-entropy alloy powders were bonded to the substrate at temperatures of 850, 950, and 1050°C for holding times of 10, 15, and 20 minutes. Microstructural characterization performed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed that increasing the diffusion-bonding temperature and time led to reduced porosity and enhanced coating densification. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization tests conducted in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution demonstrated that increasing the bonding temperature and time resulted in higher charge transfer resistance (Rct) and corrosion potential (Ecorr values, along with a decrease in corrosion current density (icorr). The coating produced at 1050°C with a holding time of 20 minutes exhibited the highest corrosion resistance. The improvement in corrosion performance was attributed to the formation of a uniform and adherent oxide film, which effectively inhibited the penetration of corrosive ions into the steel substrate.

In this study, a novel two-step heating strategy was investigated for transient liquid-phase (TLP) bonding of the IN-738LC superalloy. The bonding process consisted of an initial heating at 1150 °C for 5 seconds, followed by holding at 1110–1130 °C for 3 to 40 minutes. The microstructural evolution during the process, as well as the interface morphology, was characterized and compared with conventional TLP joints. This approach significantly reduced the time required to complete isothermal solidification; the width of the central eutectic zone decreased from 45 µm at 3 minutes to 19 µm at 12 minutes, and the eutectic zone was completely eliminated after 40 minutes. Microstructural examinations revealed that the initial step of the two-step heating process produced a cellular–dendritic solidification interface, leading to a non-uniform distribution of porosity along the bond region. Subsequent homogenization removed boride precipitates and resulted in the formation of uniformly distributed γ′ precipitates similar to those in the base metal. These findings provide practical and microstructural insights into the influence of thermal profiles on interfacial evolution and offer a pathway for improving joint quality in nickel-based superalloys.

In the present study, AISI 1030 cast-steel samples were cladded using duplex stainless-steel wire ER2209 by the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process under different preheating temperatures and varying numbers of passes. The  degrre of dilution of the clad layers,affected by both  of the preheating temperature and the number of passes—was calculated, and was evaluated its influence on the adhesion and bonding integrity of the ER2209 clad layer on the cast-steel substrate. The results showed that by increasing the number of clad layers led to a lower dilution in the samples. Furthermore, a rise in preheating temperature also contributed to an increase in dilution. Among all conditions, the three-pass cladded sample with a preheating temperature of 100 °C exhibited the highest dilution degree. Bending test results demonstrated that the bending angle increased by the number of clad passes. Macroscopic examination confirmed  that complete interfacial continuity between the clad layer and the base metal. Phase analysis and microstructural observations revealed that the base metal consisted of approximately 80% ferrite and 20% pearlite; the heat-affected zone (HAZ) exhibited a ferrite–transformed pearlite structure with similar volume fractions; and the cladded samples in the final pass presented a duplex austenitic–ferritic structure with 10–20 Wt.% ferrite content. Microhardness test indicated that the two-pass cladded sample  that preheated at 200 °C had the highest hardness value, up to 355 HV.