Effect of Friction Stir Welding on Pitting and Stress Corrosion Cracking Behavior of AFNOR7020-T6 Aluminium Alloy

Present work mainly focused on the pitting and stress corrosion cracking behavior of AFNOR7020 aluminium alloy friction stir welds and compared those results with the base material. Initially, microstructural studies, TEM, microhardness tests, tensile tests and general corrosion properties of the welds were investigated. The elongated grains present in the base material have been transformed into superfine grains in the weld nugget. Transmission electron micrographs obtained from various regions of the weld indicated that almost all strengthening precipitates dissolved in the nugget region while partial dissolution of precipitates occurred in the thermo-mechanically affected zone and coarsening occurred in heat affected zone. Hardness in the weld nugget was found to be very nearer to the base material without considerable difference. The welds showed superior joint efficiency of 85% in terms of the yield strength and 95% in terms of ultimate tensile strength. General corrosion resistance of the welds was better than that of the base material at different pH value and spraying time. Pitting corrosion studies revealed that less significant difference in pitting corrosion resistance has been observed between the weld nugget and the base material. It was found that the susceptibility towards stress corrosion cracking is relatively more in base metal compared to welded joints. It has been concluded that friction stir welding plays a very important role in corrosion properties of the AFNOR7020 aluminium alloy.