Friction stir welding of dissimilar Al 6013-T4 To X5CrNi18-10 stainless steel

The joining of dissimilar Al 6013-T4 alloy and X5CrNi18-10 stainless steel was carried out using friction stir welding (FSR) technique. The microstructure, hardness and fatigue properties of fiction stir welded 6013 aluminium alloy to stainless steel have been investigated. Optical microscopy was used to characterise the microstructures of the weld nugget, the heat affected zone (HAZ), thermo-mechanical affected zone (TMAZ) and the base materials. The results show that FSR can be used the joining of dissimilar Al 6013 alloy and X5CrNi18-10 stainless steel. Seven different zones of the microstructure in the welding are reported as follows: (1) parent stainless steel, (2) HAZ in the stainless steel at advancing side of weld, (3) TMAZ in the stainless steel at advancing side of weld, (4) weld nugget, (5) TMAZ in the Al alloy at retreating side of weld, (6) HAZ in the Al alloy at retreating side of weld and (7) parent Al alloy. A good correlation between the hardness distribution and the welding zones are observed. Fatigue properties of Al 6013-T4/X5CrNi18-10 stainless steel joints were found to be approximately 30% lower than that of the Al 6013-T6 alloy base metal.