Friction Stir Welding and Processing: An Overview

Abstract

Friction stir welding is a solid-state joining process thathas gained acceptable progress in recent years. This method whichwas first used for welding of aluminum and its alloys is nowemployed for welding of other materials such as polymersandcomposites.Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state weldingprocess in which the relative motion between thetool and the workpiece produces heat which makes the material of two edges beingjoined by plastic atomic diffusion.Friction surfacingis a relatively new technology which is capableof producing coatings with zero dilution and good metallurgicalbonding. This is attained because no melting is involved in thisprocess. Friction surfacing is a solid state deposition process forproducing wear and corrosion resistant coatings on metallic surfaces,which involves a rotating rod pushed against a horizontally movingplate. The rotating rod is the coatingmaterial and the plate is thesubstrate.