Characterization of Submerged Friction Stir Welded Joints of Titanium

Abstract

Submerged friction stir welding is the recent development of friction stir welding where welding is done using the heat generated by the friction. Titanium is the material used widely in industries where light weight and strength are the predominant design factors. This research work describes the method of submerged friction stir welding of titanium grade 1 of 1mm thick plate under water using High Carbon High Chromium tool material. The process parameters, tool rotational speed and tool traversing speed are the important factors under consideration. The mechanical and microstructural study was carried out to characterize the welded joints made. Tensile testing and hardness measurement was performed to study the mechanical properties and optical microscopic images are investigated for microstructural properties of the welded joints. Also, the results of Submerged friction stir welding is compared with the Friction stir welding performed in air. From the results obtained, the mechanical properties are higher in submerged friction stir welded joints than that of joints made by conventional friction stir welded joints as well as the base metal within the experimented process parameters.