EFFECTS AND DEFECTS OF THE POLYPROPYLENE PLATE FOR DIFFERENT PARAMETERS IN FRICTION STIR WELDING PROCESS

K. Panneerselvam, K. Lenin

Abstract: Polypropylene is one of the thermoplastic materials used in the lot of engineering applications such as marine, aerospace, automotive, toys and etc. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state method of used for joining metals. FSW process was successfully extended to join thermoplastic materials. In this paper an attempt has been made to understand the mechanism of friction stir welding joints of polypropylene plates. In this study, the role of FSW tool pin profile, rotational speed and welding speed are analyzed with respective to the quality of the joints. This research outlines the method of welding and optimization of FSW process parameters for polypropylene material by Taguchi optimization methodology. Experiments were performed at rotational speed of 1500, 1750, 2000 and 2250 rpm, Welding speeds of 30, 40, 50 and 60 mm/min, and tool pin profiles of Triangular, square, Threaded and taper pin profiles. The experiments are conducted in CNC vertical machining centre with special fixture. Microstructural characteristics were evaluated by using optical microscopy and hardness are observed in weld joints. The micro structure and Rockwell hardness of the welded region was created by threaded pin profile with welding speed of 40 and 50 mm/min and rotational speed of 2250 and 1500 rpm act as right friction stir welding parameters to avoid defects in joining of polypropylene materials.

Keywords: Polypropylene, Microstructure, Hardness, Pin profile, Speed, Feed, and Weld zone

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2013.0202010