Green welding for various similar and dissimilar metals and alloys: present status and future possibilities

Energy saving has become a priority for welding industry. This is due to the recent increase in energy demand and constraints in carbon emissions. Increasing environmental demands from governmental and customers strain the importance of reducing the environmental pollution while welding. Therefore, the minimum energy-oriented green welding process is must. Friction stir welding (FSW) is considered to be the most significant development in metal joining and is a "green" technology due to its energy efficiency, environment friendliness, and versatility. As compared to the conventional welding methods, FSW consumes considerably less energy. No shield gas or flux is used, thereby making the process environmentally friendly. No harmful gases are produced in FSW. Harmful gases adversely affect the surroundings. This creates health problems to persons carrying out welding and people living in nearby areas. Hence, there is a need to develop and use green welding techniques. An attempt has been made to study the present status and explore future possibilities in the field of FSW, so as to achieve the objectives of saving the electrical energy and protect the environment from pollution.