An Evaluation of Optimal Friction Stir Welding Factors (FSWF) For Yellow Brass 405-20

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a green, environmentally amicable, and solid-state joining technology. FSW can successfully weld a wide range of materials (similar/dissimilar parent materials) including aluminum, copper, steel, different alloys from these materials, plastics, composites. FSW of brass has already been accomplished by fewer researchers. In this research, yellow brass 405-20 is, therefore, welded with FSW that was never welded before. In this study, tool material utilized was M2 HSS that was also novel. Effect of two friction stir weld factors (FSWF), rotational speed (RS) and traverse speed (TS), was found on three output parameters i.e., weld temperature, weld strength and weld hardness. Weld temperature developed, was found to be 63.72% of melting point of base metal. A significant improvement in friction stir weld strength (FSWS) was also measured that was found to be 106.37% of the base brass strength. Finally, weld hardness was measured which was found to be 87.80% of original brass hardness. Based on main effects, optimal FSW factors were found to be 1450 rpm and 60 mm/min resulting interestingly in optimal temperature, optimal weld strength, and optimal hardness. Rotational speed (RS) was found to be significant to affect the weld temperature only at the friction stir weld zone (FSWZ) with the highest percent contribution (PCR) of 65.69%. However, PCR of transverse speed was found to be maximum for affecting weld strength as compared to its PCR towards both weld temperature and weld hardness. Current study was also deepened by microscopic investigation.

Parametric Optimization of Friction Stir Welding Factors (FSWF) for Yellow Brass 405-20

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a green, environmentally amicable, and solid-state joining technology. Industries are really interested in adopting FSW in its various applications e.g., automobile, aerospace, marine, construction, etc. FSW can successfully weld a wide range of materials (similar/dissimilar parent materials) including aluminum, copper, steel, different alloys from these materials, plastics, composites, and this material range is subjected to extension if FSW research efforts develop further in future. FSW of brass has already been accomplished by fewer researchers. In this research, yellow brass 405-20 is, therefore, welded with FSW that was never welded before. In this study, tool material utilized was M2 HSS that was also novel. Effect of two friction stir weld factors (FSWF), rotational speed (RS) and traverse speed (TS), was found on three output parameters i.e., weld temperature, weld strength and weld hardness. Weld temperature was found to be 63.72% of melting point of base metal. A significant improvement in friction stir weld strength (FSWS) was also measured that was found to be 82.78% of the base brass strength. Finally, weld hardness was measured which was found to be 87.80% of original brass hardness. Based on main effects of Anova Analysis, optimal FSW factors were found to be 1450 rpm and 60 mm/min resulting interestingly in maximum (max.)/optimal temperature, max./optimal weld strength, and minimum/optimal hardness. Rotational speed (RS) was found to be significant to affect the weld temperature only at the friction stir weld zone (FSWZ) with the highest percent contribution (PCR) of 65.69%. Transverse speed (TS) was found to be overall insignificant for affecting weld temperature, weld strength and hardness. However, PCR of transverse speed was found to be maximum for affecting weld strength as compared to its PCR towards both weld temperature and weld hardness. Error PCR was found to be the lowest for weld zone temperature, then for weld strength, and finally the highest for weld hardness. Interaction Plots (IPs) were also made for those FSWF which were found to be insignificant and to investigate any combined effect of FSWF on output parameters causing increased error PCR towards weld temperature, weld strength, and weld hardness.