Friction Stir Welding of Aluminium Alloys

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state joining technique, widely used for welding of aluminium, magnesium, copper and titanium alloys. Being a solid state joining process, friction stir welding offers various advantages like low distortion, absence of melt-related defects, high joint strength, etc. as compared to other conventional fusion welding techniques. A brief overview of the friction stir welding process and recent developments are presented in this paper. In addition, a composite picture of the work done at BARC, relating to the microstructural developments in a friction stir welded Al 5052 alloy is presented.