Orbital friction welding of metallic materials and dissimilar material joints on non-rotationally symmetrical joining cross-sections.

Rotational friction welding is the most widespread friction welding process for metals. The joints exhibit outstanding properties - not only when materials with the same or similar compositions are joined but also in the case of materials with restricted fabrication weldability (cast materials or materials manufactured by means of powder metallurgy) and of dissimilar material joints, e.g. steel/titanium and steel/aluminium. However, the rotating relative movement causes the weldable geometries to be restricted to quasi-rotationally symmetrical cross-sections. Orbital friction welding in particular offers good process engineering prerequisites for joining also non rotationally symmetrically cross sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]