FRICTION STIR WELDING OF STEEL

Mystica Augustine Michael Duke

Abstract: A water cooled holder has been designed to facilitate Friction stir welding of steel, which is not possible now because of the tool material limitations such as high temperature and load gradients , excess heat flow. Due to its high melting point, friction stir welding of steel generates very large amount of heat which has deleterious effect on the machine bearing. Deformation and wear of tool, degeneration of spindle bearing are some of the effects of FSW on steel which gradually destroys the whole system. To overcome these defects, a cooling system is needed to manage the heat transfer. A liquid cooled tool holder with a thermocouple, sealing and a coolant is designed and developed that manages heat removal from the tool. This article primarily focuses on the necessity and the layout of water cooled tool holder, selection of coolant and tool material. The results obtained show the increase in feasibility of friction stir welding of steel.

Keywords: Friction stir welding, FSW of steel, Water cooled tool holder, Tool steel, Coolant

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0309044