Journal of Welding Science

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Friction  Stir Welding  is one of the solid-state processes and today it has been used to join different types of materials. Friction stir welding does not have many problems and limitations due to melting and solidification of weld metal and by controlling its variables, the microstructure and desired mechanical properties can be achieved at the joint. Recently, in most industrial areas, due to its lightness and energy saving, much attention has been paid to the joining of aluminum alloys. The present study investigates the microstructure and evaluation of mechanical properties of friction stir welding in AA2024 and AA6061butt welds. A cylindrical threaded tool was used to join 5 mm thick plates at rotational speeds of 800, 1000 and 1200 rpm and traverse speeds of 30, 50, 70, 90 and 110 mm / min. In order to perform the necessary investigations, metallurgical observations were performed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with a chemical analysis system of the elements, as well as mechanical tests of tensile strength and micro hardness. The results showed that the difference between the two alloys causes hardness variations in the nugget zone and a large hardness drop at the transition between the zone composed of both alloys and the 6061 zone. By increasing the traverse speed from 30 to 110 mm / min at constant rotational speeds of 800, 1000 and 1200 rpm, due to reduced input heat, the grain size decreases and the hardness and strength increase. Also, the highest tensile strengths and hardness were 221.6 Mpa and 111.05 Vickers, respectively, for a sample welded at a rotational speed of 1000 rpm and a traverse speed of 110 mm / min.