Abstract
The precipitation hardenable 2XXX (Al-Cu), 6XXX (Al-Mg-Si) and 7XXX (Al-Zn) aluminium alloys considered before as “unweldable” by fusion processes , are made now joinable by the friction stir welding (FSW) process. The major advantage in FSW process is that the maximum temperature reached is less than 80% of the melting temperature (TM), i.e. the joint is performed in the solid-state and excessive microstructural degradation of the weld zone is avoided. The correlation between the microstructure characteristics and strength properties during welding is one of the most important issues in FSW optimization. This report aims to collect large amount of information about friction-stir welded precipitation hardenable aluminium alloys applied worldwide, as well microstructural and mechanical properties more specifically, by considering second phase particles, dynamical recovery and recrystallization.
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