FRICTION STIR WELDING - INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR JOINING ALUMINIUM COMPONENTS RÜHRREIBSCHWEISSEN (FRICTION STIR WELDING) - EINE INNOVATIVE VERFAHRENSTECHNOLOGIE ZUM FÜGEN VON HALBZEUGEN AUS ALUMINIUM SOUDAGE FSW - UNE TECHNOLOGIE INNOVANTE POUR LA JONCTION DE PRODUITS SEMI-FINIS EN ALUMINIUM

SUMMARY Friction stir welding is suitable for joining semi-finished aluminium products with a wall thickness from 0.3 mm to 35 mm (one side welded, butt joint or lap joint). In the context of investigations carried out at the MPA University of Stuttgart welded joints of EN AW-6082 and EN AW-5083 (t = 6 and 10 mm) were manufactured and examined regarding the microstructure and tensile test behaviour. High-quality welding seams could be manufactured. In the year 2004 the MPA University of Stuttgart installed a new system of the type "ESAB FSW Legio 3ST" for friction stir welding. This welding machine is suitable for the production of welded joints of aluminium components with a seam depth up to 12 mm (copper materials up to 3 mm). This offers innovative potential also for applications in civil engineering (metal construction) in the context of research and development on customers order.