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APPROVED: Aleksandra Fortier, Major Professor Kyle Horne, Committee Member Xiaohua Li, Committee Member Yong X. Tao, Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering Costas Tsatsoulis, Dean of the College of Engineering Victor Prybutok, Vice Provost of the Toulouse Graduate School DISSIMILAR FRICTION STIR WELDING BETWEEN MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM ALLOYS Gregory A. Reese Thesis Prepared for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS December 2016
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Page 1: Dissimilar Friction Stir Welding between …/67531/metadc955097/m2/1/high...DISSIMILAR FRICTION STIR WELDING BETWEEN MAGNESIUM ... Gregory A. Dissimilar Friction Stir Welding between

APPROVED: Aleksandra Fortier, Major Professor Kyle Horne, Committee Member Xiaohua Li, Committee Member Yong X. Tao, Chair of the Department of

Mechanical and Energy Engineering Costas Tsatsoulis, Dean of the College of

Engineering Victor Prybutok, Vice Provost of the

Toulouse Graduate School

DISSIMILAR FRICTION STIR WELDING BETWEEN MAGNESIUM

AND ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Gregory A. Reese

Thesis Prepared for the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS

December 2016

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Reese, Gregory A. Dissimilar Friction Stir Welding between Magnesium and Aluminum

Alloys. Master of Science (Mechanical and Energy Engineering), December 2016, 35 pp., 2

tables, 20 figures, 53 numbered references.

Joining two dissimilar metals, specifically Mg and Al alloys, using conventional welding

techniques is extraordinarily challenging. Even when these alloys are able to be joined, the weld

is littered with defects such as cracks, cavities, and wormholes. The focus of this project was to

use friction stir welding to create a defect-free joint between Al 2139 and Mg WE43. The stir

tool used in this project, made of H13 tool steel, is of fixed design. The design included an 11

mm scrolled and concave shoulder in addition to a 6 mm length pin comprised of two tapering,

threaded re-entrant flutes that promoted and amplified material flow. Upon completion of this

project an improved experimental setup process was created as well as successful welds between

the two alloys. These successful joints, albeit containing defects, lead to the conclusion that the

tool used in project was ill fit to join the Al and Mg alloy plates. This was primarily due to its

conical shaped pin instead of the more traditional cylindrical shaped pins. As a result of this

aggressive pin design, there was a lack of heat generation towards the bottom of the pin even at

higher (800-1000 rpm) rotation speeds. This lack of heat generation prohibited the material from

reaching plastic deformation thus preventing the needed material flow to form the defect free

joint.

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ii

Copyright 2016

by

Gregory A. Reese

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Aleksandra Fortier. Dr. Fortier

was a fantastic mentor who introduced me to the world of friction stir welding. Dr. Fortier helped

arranged my research assistant position with the Material Science and Engineering department at

UNT and guided me each step of the way. She offered autonomy in the lab while always being

available, understanding, and quick to respond.

Thank you to Dr. Rajiv Mishra for allowing me to utilize his well-equipped FSW and

processing lab as well as his technical guidance throughout this project. Also thank you to the

other students on the FSW and processing team who provided training in and outside of the lab.

Thank you to the Army Research Lab, and in particular Mr. Kevin Doherty, who was the

primary party of interest in this project, as well as much of the funding. Mr. Doherty and his

team also provided all the samples needed for this project.

Thank you to the University of North Texas and, in particular, my committee members

Dr. Xiaohua Li and Dr. Kyle Horne for all the expert guidance, use of facilities and opportunities

made available during my academic years.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES.............................................................................................. vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................... viii DISSIMILAR FRICTION STIR WELDING BETWEEN MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM ALLOYS ..........................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1

Background ..............................................................................................................1

Welding Zones .........................................................................................................3

Welding Parameters .................................................................................................4

Tool Geometry .........................................................................................................6

Base Materials Used in this Project .........................................................................9

Intermetallic Compounds .......................................................................................10

Mechanical Properties ............................................................................................13

Problem Statement .................................................................................................15

Thesis Overview ....................................................................................................15

Experimental Setup ............................................................................................................16

Tilt, Plunge Depth and Speed ................................................................................19

Tool Offset .............................................................................................................20

Opportunistic Obstacle...........................................................................................21

Tool Rotation Speed ..............................................................................................22

Material Depletion .................................................................................................24

Results ................................................................................................................................24

Microscopy ............................................................................................................24

Summary ................................................................................................................27

Future Work .......................................................................................................................28

Tool Geometry .......................................................................................................28

Tool Offset .............................................................................................................29

Tool Rotation Speed ..............................................................................................29

Microstructure and Characterization ......................................................................30

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v

Mechanical Testing ................................................................................................30 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................32

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vi

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

Page

Tables

1. Mg WE43 chemical composition.........................................................................................9

2. Al 2139 chemical composition ..........................................................................................10

Figures

1. Schematic of FSW process ..................................................................................................1

2. Advancing and retreating sides ............................................................................................2

3. (a) Schematic of microstructural zones in aluminum; (b) micrograph showing various microstructural zones [3] .....................................................................................................3

4. No plow vs full plow in regards to tool tilt and plunge depth .............................................4

5. Varying shoulder geometries ...............................................................................................6

6. (a) Shoulder radius; (b) pin's base radius; (c) pin's tip radius; (d) shoulder concavity; (e) pin height .............................................................................................................................7

7. Scrolled Shoulder schematic [23] ........................................................................................7

8. Varying basic pin geometries...............................................................................................8

9. (a) Whorl pin; (b) MX-Triflute pin ......................................................................................8

10. Optical micrographs of the cross-sections perpendicular to the tool traverse direction of the plates friction-stir-welded with tool rotation speeds of (a) 1000, (b) 1200, and (c) 1400 rpm [4] ......................................................................................................................11

11. XRD analysis of joined Mg and Al alloys .........................................................................13

12. (a) Tool length of 102.8 mm; (b) Pin length of 6 mm; (c) Fixed tool design; (d) Scrolled shoulder with two flutes .....................................................................................................16

13. (a) Tool; (b) Pin; (c) Fixed tool design; (d) Scrolled shoulder with two flutes .................17

14. Large crack due to plate separation ...................................................................................18

15. Steel spacers .......................................................................................................................18

16. Weld at 400 rpm; (a), (b), and (c) represent different camera focal points .......................23

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vii

17. Rotational speed of 500 rpm: (a) Al side of weld; (b) .28mm average crack length in SZ; (c) Mg side of weld ............................................................................................................24

18. Rotational speed of 450 rpm: (a) Mg side of weld; (b) .66 mm crack in SZ; (c) Al side of weld ....................................................................................................................................25

19. Rotational speed of 400 rpm: (a) Mg side of weld; (b) .71 mm crack in SZ; (c) Al side of weld ....................................................................................................................................26

20. Rotational speed of 350 rpm: (a) Mg side of weld; (b) .37 mm crack in SZ; (c) Al side of weld ....................................................................................................................................27

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Symbol Meaning

𝜔𝜔 Tool rotation rate, rpm

𝜈𝜈 Tool traverse speed, mm/min

ARL Army Research Lab

AS Advancing side

BM Base material

FSW Friction stir welding

HAZ Heat affected zone

IM Intermetallic

IMC Intermetallic compound

MPa Mega pascal

PD Plunge depth

RPM Revolutions per minute

RS Retreating side

SEM Scanning electron microscope

SZ Stir zone

TMAZ Thermo-mechanically affected zone

TWI The Welding Institute

UNT University of North Texas

WN Weld nugget

XRD X-ray powder diffraction

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Introduction

Across numerous industrial fields, particularly aerospace and automotive, considerable

attention has been placed upon aluminum and magnesium alloys due to their high specific

strengths and low densities among other unique properties. The primary obstacle with using

these alloys is their inability to be joined using traditional fusion or laser welding methods. As a

result, these industries are now looking to friction stir welding (FSW) to solve this joining

problem. Even with this new found popularity, there is still little research being conducted on

dissimilar FSW of aluminum and magnesium alloys. In this study, dissimilar FSW between Al

2139 and Mg WE43 alloy plates was performed. The goals of this project were to create a defect

free weld and then experimentally investigate the impact of tool rotation speed and offset on

surface appearance, microstructure, tensile and hardness properties of the joined plates.

Background

Friction stir welding (FSW) was invented at The Welding Institute (TWI) of UK in 1991 as a

proposed solid-state joining technique for aluminum alloys [1, 2]. The concept of FSW

Figure 1. Schematic of FSW process

DISSIMILAR FRICTION STIR WELDING BETWEEN MAGNESIUM

AND ALUMINUM ALLOYS

1

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essentially functions as an average milling machine does. Conventional welding methods, such

as fusion and laser, require consumption of gasses and metal rods to join two metals. In FSW, a

third body, non-consumable, rotating tool with a shoulder and profiled pin is plunged into the

joint line between two rigidly clamped samples on a backing plate support [3]. In Figure 1, a

schematic illustration of FSW is presented [1]. The tool shoulder is kept in firm contact due to

the large downward force being applied by the machine. As a result, the tool’s shoulder and pin

heat the workpiece and provide the necessary movement of material to produce the weld.

Frictional heat is generated predominantly between the tool shoulder and surface of the material.

The pin aids, although not as much, in producing the necessary heat to join the material. The pin

is also responsible for the mixing of the material once enough heat has been produced. Due to

this heat generation on the surface and around the pin, the two metals soften and a combination

of tool rotation and translation leads to movement of material from the front of the pin (positive

X axis in Figure 1) to the back of the pin (negative X axis) thus creating the advancing and

retreating sides. Material is taken from the advancing side (AS) and deposited mostly on the

retreating side (RS) and in the weld nugget. The AS and RS are dependent on which direction the

tool is rotating and traversing. If the tool is moving away from the observer and rotating

clockwise, as seen in Figure 2, then the advancing side will be located on the left. If the tool is

Figure 2. Advancing and retreating sides

2

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moving away the observer while rotating CCW then the AS will be on the right [3]. The AS can

be defined as the side of the tool where the linear velocity vector of the rotating tool is in the

same direction as the welding direction vector.

Welding Zones

In the FSW process, the joint material can be separated into four visually distinct welding

zones which are defined by their microstructure (Figure 3) [3]. The base material (BM), which

is comprised of the materials to be joined, retains each of the respective material’s properties and

typically produces the highest hardness rating. The BM is located in the bottom right and left

corners of Figure 3. Moving towards the center of the weld is the heat affected zone (HAZ).

The HAZ is the area of base material which has had its microstructure and properties altered by

heat generation. Compared to fusion and laser welding methods, the HAZ created during FSW is

considerably smaller due to substantially less heat input and smaller surface area affected by this

heat input. Unique to FSW is the thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ). Within the

TMAZ, the material undergoes plastic deformation but recrystallization does not occur [1, 3] due

Figure 3. (a) Schematic of microstructural zones in aluminum; (b) micrograph showing

various microstructural zones [3]

3

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to insufficient heating. Recrystallization is the process in which grains of a crystal structure form

a new structure or crystal shape. Last is the stir zone (SZ), which is the zone where the two

materials mix together thus where the joining process takes place. This zone is also known as the

weld nugget (WN).

Welding Parameters

FSW has many variables that can be controlled in order to create a desirable weld. The

key variables altered in this project include tilt, plunge depth (PD), tool offset, rotational speed

and traversing speed. Once a desired value was found, that parameter was held constant while

others were altered.

Tilt

A suitable tilt, or the angle of the pin with respect to the workpiece surface, ensures that

the shoulder of the tool prohibits material from leaving the joint thus increasing material flow

from the front to the back of the pin. Abundant tilt will reduce shoulder contact where as too

little tilt will simply will cause the shoulder to be in contact with non-plasticized material.

Figure 4. No plow vs full plow in regards to tool tilt and

plunge depth

4

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Plunge Depth

Plunge depth (mm), or target depth, is the desired destination the bottom of the pin will

reach in the material. A correct PD is pivotal in maintaining contact between the tool shoulder

and material surface, thus generating frictional heat. If the PD is too shallow, not enough heat

will be generated due to lack of contact between the shoulder and surface. If the PD is too deep,

material will be “plowed” forward much as a boat displaces water while moving forward thus

removing precious material from the stir zone (SZ) as seen in Figure 4.

Tool Offset

Tool offset (mm), or simply called offset, is the pins distance from the center of the joint

line. Offset location can be on the AS or RS. However, studies have shown that an offset to the

AS is typically desired in dissimilar FSW between Al and Mg [4, 5].

Tool Rotation Speed

Tool rotation speed (𝜔, rpm) occurs in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

Rotation direction is described as the direction you see it spinning when viewed from above. The

rotation of the tool results in stirring and mixing of the material around the rotating pin. This,

along with traverse speed, are the two most influential parameters in the FSW process.

Traverse Speed

The speed at which the rotating pin traverses through the plates has a substantial effect on

how well the material in the WN is stirred during the joining process. Translation of the tool

moves the stirred material from the front to the back of the pin. By controlling these last two

parameters, the machine’s controller can govern the quantity of heat that is produced by the tool

which will help in determining the weld’s quality as well as preserving the life of the tool.

5

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Tool Geometry

Tool geometry is critical in creating defect free welds during FSW. Fortunately, there are

numerous tool designs which make finding the perfect tool for the job an extensive but

worthwhile task. Varying shoulder designs can be seen in Figure 5. There are three primary

types of FSW tools: adjustable, self-reacting, and fixed.

Adjustable Tools

Adjustable tools contain independent pin and shoulder components. This design allows for

adjustments in the probe length and shoulder diameter which is an ideal solution when

attempting to create welds with varying materials and sample sizes.

Self-reacting tools

Self-reacting tools contain three different components: the pin, bottom shoulder, and top

shoulder. This tool, unlike the fixed and adjustable, has the unique ability to operate

perpendicular to the workpiece surface which allows for joining materials in more difficult

positions.

Fixed Tool

The fixed tool contains one single component which is comprised of a shoulder and pin. The

shoulder and pin are of fixed lengths and cannot be adjusted or replaced [6]. As a result of the

fixed pin length, this tool design can only be used to join workpieces with specific and constant

Figure 5. Varying shoulder geometries

6

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thickness. In this study a fixed tool was used. Tool shoulders are designed to generate frictional

heating of the surface and subsurface regions [7]. Most tools contain concave shoulders [8, 9,

10]. The concave shoulder aids in prohibiting material extrusion from the sides of the shoulder.

The shoulder concavity is defined by a small angle between the edge of the shoulder and axis of

the pin, typically from 6 to 10 degrees as seen in Figure 6 [11, 12]. Shoulders can also contain

geometric features such as scrolls, ridges, knurling, grooves or concentric circles. A scrolled

shoulder as seen in Figure 7 can be described as small grooves in the shoulder that help material

to flow in a circular motion. Another defining part of the fixed tool is the probe, or pin [1].

Figure 7. Scrolled Shoulder schematic [23]

Figure 6. (a) shoulder radius; (b) pin's base

radius; (c) pin's tip radius; (d) shoulder

concavity; (e) pin height

7

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Figure 1.8 Varying basic pin geometries

The pin produces deformational and frictional heating as well as moving and mixing the

material. It does this by shearing the material in its front and moving the material to behind

the tool.

The two most conventional pin designs are cylindrical and truncated cone. Varying pin and

shoulder designs can be seen in Figure 8 [13]. New designs such as the Whorl and MX-

Triflute, as seen in Figure 9, have been developed in order to join material with higher

thicknesses such as 12 mm and above [14, 15]. These designs increase the interfacial area

between the tool and the workpiece, leading to an increase in heat generation, softening, and

material flow during the welding process [16]. This allows for a faster traversing speed and

lower rotational speed which is optimal for manufacturing purposes. These tool designs and

Figure 9. (a) Whorl pin; (b) MX-Triflute pin

8

Figure 8. Varying basic pin geometries

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information concerning them was taken into consideration when selecting a tool design and

specifications for this project.

Table 1. Mg WE43 chemical composition

Magnesium Elektron WE43, one of the two alloys being joined in this project, is a high

strength casting alloy typically used in power systems, aerospace engines, and missiles [17]. For

example, Lockheed Martin implements WE43 in all three of its F35 aircraft variations and is also

used by Sikorsky in their S92’s main transmission. This is due to WE43’s high tensile strength of

250 MPa and low density of 1.8 g/cm3. With a melting temperature of 540-640°C it is able to

withstand operating temperatures of up to 300°C [17]. WE43 is also highly sought after because

of the alloy’s excellent corrosion resistance. Dimensions for the Mg alloy plates used in this

study are 6 inches high, 2 inches wide, and 7/16 of an inch thick. See Table 1 for the chemical

composition of Mg WE43.

Aluminum 2139, the alloy being joined to Mg WE43, is a recently created alloy that is being

implemented across several high profile entities such as NASA and the US Army [18]. With a

density of 2.81 g/cm3, a maximum yield stress of 51 ksi, and a maximum ultimate stress of 60

9

Base Materials Used in this Project

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Table 1.2 Al 2139 chemical composition

ksi, Al 2139 is an ideal alloy in both aerospace and ground vehicles [18, 19]. Dimensions for the

Al alloy plate are 6 inches in height, 4 inches wide, and 7/16 of an inch thick. See Table 2 for

the chemical composition of Al 2139.

Intermetallic Compounds

Ever since its invention back in 1991, FSW has proven to be a challenging process to

understand on a micro level. To this day there is little we can do to predict the exact outcome on

this level. We can however analyze and observe the finished product using tools such as optical

microscopes and scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) to better understand what occurred

during the FSW process. A SEM is a “type of electron microscope that produces images of a

sample by scanning it with a focused beam of electrons. These electrons interact with atoms in

the sample, producing various signals that contain information about the sample’s surface

10

Table 2. Al 2139 chemical compostion

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topography and composition” [20]. These tools allow researchers to see precisely what is going

on the surface of the weld and measure cracks and other defects on a millimeter and micrometer

scale. For example, both of these observation tools are capable of photographing and measuring

intermetallic (IM) layers. An IM layer may briefly be described as “solid phases containing two

or more metallic elements with optionally one or more non-metallic elements, whose crystal

structure differs from that of the other constituents” [21]. The formation of a thin IM layer at the

interface would result in the welds exhibiting virtually no ductility as well higher hardness rating

and typically more brittle behavior [22]. See Figure 10 for an illustration. SEM also allows

researchers to observe grain sizes within the WN. It is well accepted that the dynamic

recrystallization during FSW results in generation of fine and equiaxed grains, or crystals that

have axes of approximately the same length, in the stirred zone [23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29]

If we are to further understand what is occurring between two dissimilar alloys, X-ray

powder diffraction (XRD) can be used. XRD is a “rapid analytical technique primarily used for

phase identification of a crystalline material” [30]. In other words, using XRD will identify the

Figure 10. Optical micrographs of the cross-sections perpendicular to the tool traverse direction of the plates

friction-stir-welded with tool rotation speeds of (a) 1000, (b) 1200, and (c) 1400 rpm [4].

11

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location and type of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) which will lead to identifying phases

within the weld nugget so that we can predict where a weld will typically fail while under

tension. An IMC can be defined as “any of a class of substances composed of definite

proportions of two more elemental metals, rather than continuously variable proportions” [31] .

In the dissimilar FSW, IMCs are simply different mixtures of the base materials in varying

proportions. The following is a brief summary of assorted journals that are related to the topic of

intermetallic compounds (IMCs) that occur during dissimilar FSW of Mg and Al alloys. The

study by Y.S. Sato et al. [5] report that the dissimilar weld between Mg AZ31 and Al 1050

contained a large volume of IMC Al12Mg17 and considerably higher hardness in the weld nugget

compared to that of typical Al-Mg welds. During the joining process of Mg AZ31 and Al 1060

Yan et al [5] indicated that Al12Mg17 and Al3Mg2 cause the weld to crack along the centerline.

Yamamoto et al [32] stated that the formation of IMCs was controlled by diffusion of Al and Mg

atoms. Using X-ray diffraction analysis, C.B. Jagadeesha [5] also reports the presence of IMCs

Al12Mg17 and Al3Mg2 in the weld volume. See Figure 11 for an example of the results from

XRD analysis on a Mg-Al weld [33].

It is clear that the reoccurring Al12Mg17 IMC will have to be reduced as much possible if

the highest quality weld is to be produced. The findings gathered from published literature

coupled with the training received from fellow students in the FSW lab provided essential

guidance when creating the experimental setup.

12

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Mechanical Properties

In order to determine if a weld between two dissimilar metals has an acceptable

efficiency, mechanical testing such as tensile and hardness must be done. Efficiency is the

percentage of the maximum strength, whether it be hardness or tensile, of the weaker metal or

alloy that is being joined. For example, if a weld between aluminum and steel has a 70%

efficiency, that means that the weld has 70% of the aluminums mechanical strengths since it is

the weaker of the two joined materials.

Powerful plastic deformation and frictional heating during FSW/FSP results in generation

of a recrystallized fine-grained microstructure within the stirred zone [1]. This microstructure

Figure 11. XRD analysis of joined Mg and Al alloys

13

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typically yields a higher hardness rating and lower ductility [34, 35]. Other reports have

indicated the small recrystallized grains of the nugget zone contain a high density of sub-

boundaries [36], subgrains [37], and dislocations [38]. These results further reinforce the concept

that FSW/FSP is able to produce higher strength welds between the two plates due to

recrystallization and plastic deformation.

FSW produces a softened area around the WN in numerous precipitation-hardened

aluminum alloys [39, 23, 25, 40, 41, 42]. Sato et al. [41] examined the hardness profiles

associated with the microstructure in an FSW 6063Al-T5. They stated that the hardness profile

was strongly affected by precipitate distribution rather grain size in the weld. They reported that

the hardness profile was strongly affected by precipitate distribution rather grain size in the weld

which was contrary to previous welding methods. This and other studies have shown that the

lowest hardness does not lie in the center of the weld zone which is typical of previous welding

techniques, but instead lies outside out of the WN [43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50].

The study by Ahmed Khodir et al [51] reported that in dissimilar joining of Al 2024 to

Mg AZ3 the hardness value varied in the nugget due to the formation of IMCs as the result of

constitutional liquation during welding. P. Venkateswaran et al [52] reports that the variation of

the tensile strength can be described as a function of the maximum intermetallic thickness. Their

work depicts that the tensile strength of the weld joint rises as the maximum thickness of the IM

layer at the interface falls. C.B. Jagadeesha [5] studied the effects of varying offset while

maintaining a constant rotation speed of 300 RPM and a traversing speed of 50 mm min−1.

These tests were conducted on 5mm thick 2024-T3 Al alloy and AZ31B-O Mg alloy plates. The

maximum tensile strength (106.86 MPa) was obtained for the tensile sample with interface offset

.66 mm on the RS and with a minimum IM thickness. These experiments yielded tensile joint

14

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efficiency equal to 44.52%. These results aided in identifying patterns between IM layers and

mechanical properties. These experiments and testing techniques were taken into consideration

when creating the experimental setup for this project.

Problem Statement

Due to the differences in chemical, physical, and mechanical properties between aluminum

and magnesium alloys, the welding of two dissimilar materials is generally more challenging

than that of homogeneous materials [5]. Other research projects which have attempted using both

fusion and laser welding have shown that these welding methods are not effective at creating

sound hybrid joints of Al-Mg due to the formation of substantial brittle intermetallics as well as

cracks and voids in the weld.

Thesis Overview

Joining two dissimilar metals, specifically Mg and Al alloys, using conventional welding

techniques is extraordinarily challenging. Even when they are able to be joined, the weld is

littered with defects such as cracks, cavities and wormholes. Numerous studies have reported

that the use of FSW can be used to join dissimilar Al and Mg alloys [1,4-10]. The focus of this

thesis is to use FSW to create a defect-free joint between Al 2139 and Mg WE43. After creating

a successful and defect-free weld, the impact of tool rotation speed and offset on surface

appearance, microstructure, tensile and hardness properties of the joined plates were

experimentally investigated.

15

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Experimental Setup

The materials used for butt joints were Mg WE43 and Al 2139 alloy plates. The materials

were secured by clamping and placing shims to inhibit any movement in the x, y, or z directions.

Plates were butt welded with a welding direction perpendicular to the rolling direction by the

Manufacturing Technology, Inc. RM-1-3267 FSW machine.

The stir tool, made of H13 tool steel, is of fixed design. The design includes an 11 mm

diameter shoulder which is scrolled and concave to best generate heat while insuring the material

does not escape during the joining process. The tool also contains a 6 mm length pin. The pin is

comprised of two tapering, threaded re-entrant flutes that promote and amplify material flow

Figure 12. (a) Tool length of 102.8 mm; (b) Pin length of 6 mm; (c) Fixed tool design; (d) Scrolled shoulder with two

flutes

16

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around the tool. See Figure 12 and Figure 13 for illustrations. During the dissimilar FSW, Al

2139 and Mg WE43 plates were kept in RS and AS respectively for the majority of the project.

Initial welding attempts were foiled due to the plates separating from one another. The

separation primarily occurred once the pin began traversing through the material and partially

during the initial plunge. This caused large cracks to emerge and a gap between the plates was

created as seen in Figure 14. The plate separation also allowed for material to escape the weld

which caused further failure.

In order to prevent plate separation, new varying sized shims were designed to constrain the

plates. The small shims were cut from ordinary steel sheets of varying thicknesses. The large

“shims”, or spacers, were made from tool steel as well. The spacer design was quite simple and

customized to fit perfectly between the material and table that the plates were clamped to. The

shapes and sizes of the spacers were designed uniquely for the Al and Mg plate’s widths as well

17

Figure 13. (a) Tool; (b) Pin; (c) Fixed tool design; (d) Scrolled shoulder with two flutes

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Figure 12.3 Large crack due to plate separation

as the table itself. The spacer shapes, which resembles the letter “E”, were created so that the

spacer would not come in contact with the clamps on the table but instead rest against static

supports. Once the spacers were drawn in 3D drafting software they were 3D printed so

that they could be test fitted. Once the fitting was confirmed, spacers were then cut from steel so

that they would be able to withstand the enormous loads the FSW machine would apply. See

Figure 15 for an image of the steel spacers.

Figure 15. Steel spacers

18

Figure 14. Large crack due to plate separation

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In addition to preventing plate separation, the spacers also expedited the setup process

tremendously. The initial process required one plate to be placed on the table followed by

traversing the tool down the side of the plate to insure that it was perfectly straight on the table.

If the first plate was not perfectly straight, the weld would be crooked causing unwanted varying

offsets during the joining process. This one step would take between 20 to 30 minutes alone.

Once the first plate was centered it was firmly clamped down. The remaining plate was the

clamped down as well in a butt weld fashion. At this point, the tool traversed directly above the

joint line to insure that the two plates were perfectly centered and straight once again. If any

variation was observed, which occurred over 50% of the time, the whole process would have to

be repeated. The spacers eliminated this entire process because of how the plates and spacers

were of fixed width. As a result, the spacers not only prevented lateral plate movement but also

cut down on preparation time by 1 to 2 hours each day welding was performed.

Tilt, Plunge Depth and Speed

Once the spacers were fully implemented, experimental welds of Al 2139 and Mg WE43

were able to be rapidly created for several weeks. Parameters such as tilt, plunge depth, and

plunge speed were able to be quickly identified as a result of the improved FSW setup process.

Tilt

The geometric design of the tool facilitated improved material flow and heat generation

compared to that of more basic tool designs. As a result, the tool used in this project did not

require a high degree of tilt. Yet a small degree of tilt augments material flow at the base and

around the pin. Therefore, the tilt was set to .5° and remained so until the end of the project.

19

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Plunge Depth

Due to the tool’s fixed design and length, an ideal plunge depth was quickly determined to be

6.05 mm. This depth allowed for complete shoulder contact with the surface of the plates while

not plowing through the material.

Plunge Speed

Initially the plunge speed was set to 2 mm 𝑠−1 but it was quickly observed that this was not

enough time to heat the material during the initial plunge. This was evident because the plates

were struggling to stay in their fixed positions. As a result of the pin plunging too quickly, it was

acting more like a wedge and forcing the plates apart rather than mixing them together. There

was not enough heat generation due to the lack of shoulder and pin contact during the initial

plunge. Once the plunge speed was reduced to 1 mm 𝑠−1 the plates were able to maintain contact

throughout the initial plunging process. It was crucial that these three parameters be identified

first otherwise the remainder of the process would never be able to succeed.

Tool Offset

The next parameter to be reviewed was tool offset. Compared to the vast majority of

other related projects, the Al and Mg plates in this project were much thicker and the tool

contained a longer pin. Regardless, related literature as well as consulting with other students in

the lab provided supportive insight as to where to start. Offset was initially set to the Al side

which was the AS at the beginning of the project. It became clear that there was not enough

material flow to fill the weld nugget which was creating an enormous valley along the joint line.

The incorrect offset was also causing a large crack to emerge down the joint line. Upon

consulting with leadership in the lab, Mg was then placed on the AS and Al on the RS. Starting

20

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with an offset of 4 mm to the Al side, the offset was gradually brought towards the joint line.

With each run there were minor improvements in the weld. Improvements included better

material flow to the back of the pin and additional mixing of Mg and Al in the WN. Gap depths

between Al and Mg were measured using a micrometer and compared from one run to the next

to insure that progress was being made. Following the evidence of improved welds, the offset

gradually made its way over the Mg side. Once the tool offset reached 2.15 mm and above on the

Mg side it was noted that the problems of large cracks and lack of material flow resurfaced.

Working back towards the centerline, the process was repeated with .2 mm intervals. The best

results were observed with a .35 mm offset. This is not to say this is the ideal offset. Smaller

intervals and repeated runs would be necessary to determine the ideal offset, as will be discussed

later in this report.

Opportunistic Obstacle

With only a few Al and Mg plates remaining, a unique opportunity arose for the team. While

waiting for more Al and Mg alloy plates to be delivered by ARL, the team decided to find a way

to recycle the previously used material. If material were to be recycled, it would have to be done

in a way that would not contaminate future experiments. To begin, previous welded plates were

separated along the joint line. Then any residual material where the break occurred along the

original joint line was milled off in the UNT manufacturing lab. The recycled Al and Mg plates

would be able to welded again along the unused sides of the plates thus not contaminating future

welds. However, new problems arose with the recycling of previously used plates. All residual

material had to be removed from the original joint line, otherwise the plates would not be able to

be clamped securely on the table. As a result of milling off material from each plate, each plate’s

width was slightly reduced. The smaller plates would no longer fit perfectly with spacers on the

21

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machine. To solve this, thicker shims had to be created in order to fill the new gaps between the

spacers and the static supports.

Tool Rotation Speed

Fixing the tool offset at .35 mm to the AS, tool rotation became the primary focus of the

project. Reflecting upon published literature, successful welds have been observed with rotation

speeds ranging anywhere from 1600 rpm down to 300 rpm [2-12]. In order to narrow down this

large range, this project’s tool geometry was taken into consideration. The vast majority of

previous research on dissimilar FSW of Mg and Al alloys was focused on joining plates with

thickness of less than 4 mm. These studies also typically used tools that contained 2-3.5 mm pin

lengths and 4-8 mm diameter shoulders [4]. In order for these tools to create enough heat to

achieve plastic deformation of the material, it would make sense that speeds around 1200-1600

rpm were needed. Other research has shown that defect free welds can be achieved at low

rotation speeds, such as 300-500, as well [5]. With this information in mind and taking the FSW

machine’s restrictions into consideration, it was decided to start conducting runs at 1000 rpm.

Several attempts were made at this rotation speed yet none of them came close to creating a

sound weld. Looking closely at the weld, there appeared to be asymmetrical shoulder contact on

the material in the y-direction which caused the weld to fail. During troubleshooting, it was

concluded that the table on which the experiments were being conducted on was the issue. Upon

further inspection it was determined that the table and its clamps would have to be repaired

before any further welds could be completed. Since the previous runs were inconclusive, upon

the return of the repaired table, the project was resumed setting the rotation speed at 1000 rpm.

22

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This run marked the first weld where the plates were firmly welded together, even though there

was still a gap and large crack along the joint line.

It was observed that the surface of the plates, more so Mg than Al, had melted during the

FSW process. This was due to the high rotation speed coupled with the scrolled shoulder. Since

melting, or fusing, the two alloys together was not the objective of this project, the rotation speed

had to be decreased. By diminishing the rotation speed by 50 rpm each run, the melting problem

was solved and better mixing was achieved. It wasn’t until the rotation speed reached 350 rpm

that improvements stop occurring. As seen in Figure 16, at 400 rpm there was minimal melting,

igure 2.5 Weld at 400 rpm; (a), (b), and (c) represent different camera focal points

the gap between the two plates was one of the smallest, and the magnesium appeared to be mixed

within the stir zone better than all the previous runs. Furthermore, there was a loud “popping”

sound heard immediately following the completion of the FSW process. This noise is believed to

be the result of the IM layer being created along the joint line. Although this is traditionally bad

news because it leads to weaker mechanical testing, it provided evidence that mixing of Al and

Mg alloys occurred.

23

Figure 16. Weld at 400 rpm; (a), (b), and (c) represent different camera focal points

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Material Depletion

Due to restrictions on available material, the project came to another halt. Since the plates

had already been recycled once before, it would be impossible to do so again because both sides

of the plates had been used and contaminated. Taking all the information obtained throughout

this project and the experiences gained, a thorough plan has been developed that will be

implemented if research on this topic should be continued.

Results

Microscopy

To better understand the surface effects and crack propagation due to varying tool

rotation speeds, welded samples were observed utilizing an optical microscope. The tool rotation

speeds that were analyzed were 500, 450, 400, and 350 rpm. Both the Mg and Al side of each

weld was studied as well as each crack along the joint line. When observing the 500 rpm weld

with the naked eye, it was noted that Mg side of the weld contained a metallic and smooth

surface. This was predominately due to the excess heat generated by the scrolled shoulder used

in this project and the tool being offset to the Mg side. Figure 17 depicts the Mg side of the 500

(a) (b) (c)IM layer

Figure 17. Rotational speed of 500 rpm: (a) Al side of weld; (b) .28mm average crack length in SZ; (c) Mg side of weld

24

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rpm weld where excess heat generation occurred. When comparing the Mg side of the weld

(Figure 17c) to the Al side (Figure 17a), there is a noticeable difference in each flow pattern.

On the Al side, the flow pattern is clearly defined and is consistent throughout the weld which

reflects previous successful welds with other materials in the lab at UNT in addition to published

literature [2-8]. On the Mg side, the flow pattern is difficult to discern as a result of the Mg

surface melting during the joining process. If FSW is to create a defect-free weld with minimal

IMCs, the two materials cannot exceed their respective melting temperatures while being joined.

Contrary to published data, the crack between the two alloy plates did not follow the IM layer as

seen in Figure 17b. The major crack follows the joint line through the Al side only which leads

us to believe it was a result of mechanical failure during the process. Meaning that the two plates

were not securely held together during the joining process and also due to the lack of material

flow from one side to the other thus not filling the SZ. The large crack could also be caused by

residual stress left behind by the built up downward pressure caused by the FSW machine [7].

Even with these issues, the 500 rpm tool rotation speed created one of the smallest cracks with an

average size of .28 mm.

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 18. Rotational speed of 450 rpm: (a) Mg side of weld; (b) .66 mm crack in SZ; (c) Al side of weld

25

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Similar to the 500 rpm experiment, the weld created using a tool rotation speed of 450

rpm still generated too much heat on the surface of the Mg side. This is illustrated by the lack of

a well-defined flow pattern on the Mg side (Figure 18a) as well as a metallic and smooth

surface. When compared to that of the Al side (Figure 18c), there appears to be less cracking

which might seem to be a positive result, but this is not the case. There are small cracks and

fissures along the Al side which are side effects of the large crack being formed. It is worth

noting that by reducing the tool rotation speed from 500 to 450 rpm there was flow improvement

on the Mg side. Although the crack width increased to an average .66 mm (Figure 18b), this is

not a clear indication that the tool rotation speed parameter was moving in the wrong direction.

Note that the major crack still formed only on the Al side of the weld and not along the IM layer.

This tells us that the crack was not a product of IMCs, Al12Mg17 for example, being formed in

the SZ.

Reducing the tool rotation speed by another 50 rpm yielded additional material flow and

reduced heat generation on the Mg side of the weld as seen in Figure 19a. A clear material flow

pattern, although not as defined as the Al side (Figure 19c), can be seen which is a clear sign

that lower rotation speeds is where this project’s tool should be operated at. The lack of material

(b)(a) (c)

Figure 19. Rotational speed of 400 rpm: (a) Mg side of weld; (b) .71 mm crack in SZ; (c) Al side of weld

26

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flow from the front to the back of the tool’s pin still caused a large crack to form as seen in

Figure 19b. If a defect-free weld is to be created between Al 2139 and Mg WE43 alloys, this

issue must be addressed and resolved.

As seen in Figure 20a, particularly in the lower right hand corner, the material flow on

the Mg side of the weld increased yet again when reducing the tool rotation speed by 50 rpm.

Flow on the Al side remained well defined at a tool rotation speed of 350 rpm (Figure 20c). The

crack’s average width came to be .37 mm as seen in Figure 20b. These images further confirmed

that the optimal tool rotation speed below 500 rpm.

Summary

Upon completion of this project an improved experimental setup process was created as well

successful welds between Al 2139 and Mg WE43 alloy plates. These successful joints, albeit

containing defects, and the data that accompanied them provided essential information that

would eventually lead students in the lab to a better understanding of dissimilar FSW.

Accompanying this enlightenment came the conclusion that the dual-flute and scrolled shoulder

tool used in this project was ill fit to join the Al and Mg alloy plates. This was primarily due to

(b)(a) (c)

Figure 20. Rotational speed of 350 rpm: (a) Mg side of weld; (b) .37 mm crack in SZ; (c) Al side of weld

27

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its conical shaped pin. As a result of this “aggressive” pin design, there was a lack of heat

generation towards the bottom of the pin even at higher (800-1000 rpm) rotation speeds. This

lack of heat generation prohibited the material from reaching plastic deformation thus causing

material to be shredded and deposit debris in the SZ.

Future Work

Although a defect-free weld was not able to be created in the short time this project ran, the

knowledge and experience gained through the process has proved to be invaluable. From this

knowledge a thorough plan has been formed that could lead to a sound weld being created

between the Al and Mg alloys. The plan also extends to mechanical and optical analysis which is

primarily based off published data.

Tool Geometry

As the lead student of this project continued to review published literature and observe the

results of the many failed attempts at joining the Al and Mg alloys, it was noted that the tool

geometry could possibly be too “aggressive”. Meaning that the tool contained a more conical

shaped pin and should have a more cylindrical shaped one. For example, the pin in this study

nearly came down to a fine point much as a typical screw would. The vast majority of other

reviewed projects used pins that ended with a flat surface, as though the bottom portion of the

screw had been cut off. It is understood that the flute design on the pin in this project should have

augmented material flow around and to the rear of the pin. That did not happen when attempting

to join the Mg and Al alloys. The chief obstacle in this project was the lack of material flow to

the rear of the pin. This was the main cause for the large gaps that formed in between the two

28

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plates. It is worth mentioning that when the tool was plunged and traversed only through the Al

alloy, acting as though it was a normal run, the tool generated sufficient heat and provided the

necessary material flow to create a defect-free run only through the Al alloy. This indicates that

the tool is generating too much heat exclusively on the Mg side. If work is to be continued on

dissimilar FSW between Al 2139 and Mg WE43, it is recommended that a more cylindrical

shaped pin be used the current conical pin design.

Tool Offset

During the course of this project the tool offset ranged from 4 mm to the RS to 2.15 mm to

the AS. It was concluded that a .35 mm offset to the AS was an acceptable value in order to

continue forward with the project. This value should only indicate a guide line for the optimal

offset. If future research is to be done on dissimilar FSW of Al 2139 and Mg WE43, focus

should be on analyzing the offset range of .6 mm on the AS to .6 mm on the RS with .05 mm

intervals. This approach should provide the researcher with an optimal offset value. Although

this might appear to be over cautious, tool offset and rotation speed are two of the three

influential parameters when working with dissimilar alloys.

Tool Rotation Speed

Once the optimal tool offset has been determined, the ideal tool rotation speed can then be

identified. Taking into consideration both the findings from this project and information gathered

from reviewing literature, there should exist a range of speeds that will be able to create defect-

free welds between the two alloys. Speeds from 300 rpm up to 700 rpm should be measured in

50 rpm increments to insure the ideal speeds be identified. Once the optimal range has been

determined, the impact of tool rotation speed on surface appearance, microstructure, tensile and

hardness properties of the joined plates should be experimentally investigated.

29

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Microstructure and Characterization

It is essential that the IM layer be measured and IMCs be analyzed within the SZ in order to

determine the quality of the weld. To do so, images must be taken with a scanning electron

microscope (SEM) and data collected from preforming X-ray diffraction (XRD) to provide the

necessary information respectively. In order to preform XRD and to use a SEM on the joined

alloys, the material must first be polished and etched. To polish, grind down the samples using

varying grit sand paper until a clean and smooth surface is created. Then polish with a 1-micron

Alumina solution. Follow up with .5 and .1 micron solutions until a perfectly flat and reflective

surface exists. Once polished, the Al alloy side should be etched using Kellers Reagent (1 ml HF

+ 1.5 ml HCl + 2.5 ml HNO3 + 95 ml distilled water) for 30-50s and Mg alloy side should be

etched by solution (14 ml out of 2g picric acid + 20 ml ethanol +2 ml acetic acid + 2ml water)

for 5 s [5]. The X-ray diffraction analysis will determine the presence of IM compounds such as

Al12Mg17 and Al3Mg2 in the weld volume. The results from using the SEM will identify where

the IM layer exists and its thickest points.

Mechanical Testing

If a satisfactory efficiency is to be achieved, tensile and hardness testing must be performed.

Microhardness testing, or Vickers hardness test method, is recommended. Any microhardness

testing equipment may be used as long as it adheres to ASTM standards. Measurements should

be taken at least every half millimeter starting where the Al base material contacts the HAZ all

the way to where the Mg base material contacts the HAZ. Do this for each of the successful

welds with varying rotation speeds and offsets. Using a different portion of each successful weld,

prepare samples for mini-tensile testing. The samples will vary in size and shape depending the

tensile testing equipment. It is crucial that the SZ be the exact center of each prepared sample.

30

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Tension testing should be carried out according to ASTM standards. To do so, a constant strain

rate of 10−3s−1 at room temperature (72 F) should be applied. Once all these tests have been

completed, compare the results to that of each base material and also to previously published

data regarding dissimilar FSW of Mg and Al alloys.

31

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