The microstructural features and overlap shear strength properties of friction stir spot welds made between Al 6111 and low carbon steel, and between Mg alloy AM60 and DP600 dual phase steel, are investigated. When Al 6111 is the upper sheet in the dissimilar sandwich, completed spot welds show evidence of intermetallic layer formation and cracking. Increasing tool pin penetration into the lower sheet provided increased mechanical interlocking of the sheets due to clinching. However, increasing penetration also promoted intermetallic formation and cracking in completed welds. However, dissimilar AM60/DP600 steel friction stir spot welds produced with AM60 as the upper sheet in the dissimilar sandwich do not show evidence of intermetallic formation and cracking may be avoided by removing the zinc coating on the DP600 steel before the friction stir spot welding operation.
The influence of tool geometry on material flow during friction stir welding of dissimilar aluminium alloys is investigated. Sheets of Al 2024 and Al 6061 alloys are friction stir welded in lap and butt configurations using different welding conditions. Optical microscopy with serial sectioning is utilised to systematically study material flow when small variations are made to the tool pin. It is shown that three flat features on the pin impose vertical material flow which can promote intermixing. When a threaded tool is used, the material flow and formation of the intermixed region depends on the orientation of the base materials, since the differences in viscosity of material on the advancing versus retreating side of the tool will inhibit intermixing. Decreasing the travel speed will promote intermixing by increasing the residence time to compensate for the differences in material viscosity that otherwise limit intermixing.
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