Microstructure and mechanical properties of alumina-6061 aluminum alloy joined by friction welding

The study of the interface of ceramic/metal alloy friction welded components is essential for understanding of the quality of bonding between two dissimilar materials. In the present study, optical and electron microscopy as well as four-point bending strength and microhardness measurements were used to evaluate the quality of bonding of alumina and 6061 aluminum alloy joints produced by friction welding. The joints were also examined with EDX (energy dispersive X-ray) in order to determine the phases formed during welding. The bonded alumina-6061 aluminum samples were produced by varying the rotational speed but keeping constant the friction pressure and friction time. The experimental results showed that the effect of rotation speed and degree of deformation appears to be high on the 6061 Al alloy than on the alumina part. It is discovered that the weld interface formed included three different regions: unaffected zone (UZ), deformed zone (DZ), as well as transformed and recrystallized fully deformed zone (FPDZ). Therefore, when rotational speed increases, the thickness of full plastic deformed zone (FPDZ) at the interface increases as a result of more mass discarded from the welding interface. It was also observed that rotational speed of 2500 rpm can produce a very good joint and microhardness with good microstructure as compared to the other experimental rotational speeds.