A Review of Mechanical Characterisation of Friction Stir Welded Magnesium Alloys

Abstract

Welding is a process of joining similar metals by the application of heat and pressure. Welding process is used commonly to get the advanced properties of the metals like Mild steel, Aluminum, Copper, Magnesium etc. Among these metals Magnesium has the lowest density (1.78 g/cm3) and it has good mechanical properties like high strength to weight ratio, good damping capacity, and good corrosion resistant compared to Mild steel. But Magnesium is highly flammable which requires gas shielding to prevent the oxidation, which forms Magnesium oxide, an undesirable compound. Friction Stir Welding, a Solid State Welding process uses the heat developed by the rotating tool, due to the friction the heat developed is used to join the metals, where the weld zone temperature zone is comparatively lower than conventional welding .The retention of the mechanical characteristics is achieved in FSW process. But problems in FSW like Pin, Tunnel and Flash defects are produced in weld zone. These problems and Weld quality, microstructure, mechanical characteristics of the weld zone can be controlled by varying the FSW parameters such as Tool rotational speed, Tool traverse speed, Tool Axial force, Tool shoulder to tool pin diameter ratio, tool profile etc. In this project we are going to study the effects of these parameters in Friction Stir Welding of Magnesium alloys.