Effect of rotational speeds on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir-welded 7075-T6 aluminium alloy

In this article, effects of rotational speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir-welded 7075-T6 Al alloys were investigated. Good correlation existed between the rotational speeds and weld properties. It was found that with increase in the rotational speed, higher pick temperatures and wider thickness of the heat-affected zone were obtained, and then grain coarsening, dissolution, and accumulation of hardening precipitates in grain boundaries. The average grain size of nugget increased from 6.8 to 8.9 µm, with increasing rotary speed from 600 to 1550 r/min. In addition, the best mechanical properties were obtained at moderate rotational speed of 825 r/min while ultimate tensile strength and elongation were 405 MPa and 6.1 per cent, respectively. Also, it was observed that at low welding speed of 60 mm/min, the weld properties are found to be dominated by the thermal cycle rather than the plastic deformation induced by tool, so as to make a reduction in hardness and strength of the weld when using higher rotational speeds.