Friction stir welding and explosive welding of aluminum/copper: process analysis

The 6082 aluminum alloy was welded to copper-DHP by friction stir welding and explosive welding. The effect of each welding process on the microstructural evolution, the intermetallic phases distribution, and the mechanical behavior of both types of welds was analyzed and compared. The microstructural changes proved to be much more expressive in friction stir welding due to the larger area under plastic deformation, the stirring and mixing of the alloys, the longer time under high temperature, and the longer interaction times between the base materials during welding. As explosive welding process is much faster, it avoids extensive microstructural changes and significant interaction of the materials, reducing the intermetallic volumes and their distribution along the interface. The friction stir welds presented Cu-rich intermetallics while the explosive welds presented Al-rich intermetallics. For alloys that can easily form brittle intermetallic phases, excessive interaction during the welding process leads to a very poor mechanical behavior of the joints.