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Dissimilar aluminum alloy sheets of 2017A-T451 and 7075-T651 (6 mm thickness) were friction stir welded in a butt weld configuration. A numerical simulation of the joining process was developed to visualize the material flow patterns and temperature distribution and to correlate the microstructure to the hardness behavior. Due to the complementary downward flow of surface material into the workpiece thickness and upward flow of mid-plane and bottom-plane material, the weld nugget is composed of alternating layers of 7075 and 2017A. These layers have unique temperature histories depending on the material's initial location within the cross section; therefore, they also have distinctive precipitate distributions. Supersaturated surface material flows into the process zone and forms a core in which GP zones reprecipitate upon cooling. Mid-plane and bottom-plane material flow toward the workpiece surface and encompass the surface material core. Within this region, the weld temperatures overage the equilibrium θ phase in 2017A, decreasing the hardness, and at the same time, dissolve the equilibrium η/ T phase in the 7075, leading to reprecipitation of GP zones upon cooling and a hardness recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium alloy 7136 belongs to the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu group of aluminium alloys strengthened by precipitation. These alloys offer very good properties, i.e. high strength combined with good corrosion resistance, which makes them suitable for aerospace applications. The limited range of applications of these alloys is due to problems associated with their welding. The Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys are classified as non-weldable. The aim of this study was to determine the quality and properties of friction stir welded (FSW) joints of alloy 7136-T76. This article presents the results of a detailed study into the microstructure and mechanical properties of FSW welds. The paper demonstrates that the FSW method is suitable for joining Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys. The FSW joints are of good quality and high mechanical properties. Tests of joints created at various tool rotation speeds have shown that joints of suitable quality, in terms of microstructure and properties, can be obtained for a relatively wide range of process parameters. The tool rotation speeds applied during the welding process did not have a significant influence on the quality of the welds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sheets of aluminum 2017A-T451 and 7075-T651 were friction stir-welded in a butt-weld configuration. An existing computational model of the welding process for temperature distribution and material flow was adapted to estimate the phase transformations that occur across the weld zone. Near the weld center, process temperatures are sufficient to fully dissolve the equilibrium η phase in 7075 and partially dissolve the equilibrium S phase in 2017A. Upon cooling, Guinier–Preston (GP) and Guinier–Preston–Bagaryatsky (GPB) zones re-precipitate, and hardness recovers. Due to the more complete dissolution of the equilibrium phase in 7075, the hardness recovery skews toward whichever side of the weld, i.e., the advancing or retreating side, represents the 7075 workpiece. Phase transformation maps generated by the numerical simulation align not only with the hardness profiles taken across the weld zone, but also with positron lifetimes obtained through positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Boundaries between the aluminum matrix and the secondary phases provide open volumes to trap positrons; therefore, positron lifetimes across the weld correspond with the phase transformations that occur in 7075 and 2017A during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]