Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)

One of the new areas that requires extensive study of the structure and properties of welded joints is the heat-affected zone (HAZ). This issue is particularly important for new constructions made of aluminium alloys intended for battery housing for powering electric car engines. Modern welding meth...

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Main Authors: Sonia Boczkal, Monika Mitka, Joanna Hrabia-Wiśnios, Bartłomiej Płonka, Marek St. Węglowski, Aleksandra Węglowska, Piotr Śliwiński
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/208
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author Sonia Boczkal
Monika Mitka
Joanna Hrabia-Wiśnios
Bartłomiej Płonka
Marek St. Węglowski
Aleksandra Węglowska
Piotr Śliwiński
author_facet Sonia Boczkal
Monika Mitka
Joanna Hrabia-Wiśnios
Bartłomiej Płonka
Marek St. Węglowski
Aleksandra Węglowska
Piotr Śliwiński
author_sort Sonia Boczkal
collection DOAJ
description One of the new areas that requires extensive study of the structure and properties of welded joints is the heat-affected zone (HAZ). This issue is particularly important for new constructions made of aluminium alloys intended for battery housing for powering electric car engines. Modern welding methods, such as EBW and FSW, meet the requirements related to the high precision of the process and the quality of the welded joint itself. This article presents the results of an analysis of the structure and strengthening of the HAZ of chemically modified AlMgSi(Cu) alloys via EBW and FSW. Microstructural observation was performed via SEM for each welded joint to determine the morphology of the precipitates. In the HAZ, β-Mg<sub>2</sub>Si, Q-Al,MgCu,Si and α-Al,Fe,Si (Mn,Cu) phases with larger sizes and rounded shapes were visible than they were directly in the weld made via the EBW method. The joints produced by the FSW method were characterised by a wide weld area and an irregular weld line. Analysis of the crystallographic orientation via EBSD and grain orientation spread (GOS) revealed differences in the shape of the grains and the degree of recrystallisation in the weld area between the FSW and EBW methods. The distributions of HB (FSW) hardness and HV (EBW) microhardness measurements revealed a slight decrease in hardening in the HAZ. In joints welded by both methods, the hardness of the welds for alloys with increased copper and chromium contents increased by approximately 5%.
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spelling doaj-art-e76570216900419b947ae1a640df8c3d2025-08-20T02:11:09ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-02-0115320810.3390/cryst15030208Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)Sonia Boczkal0Monika Mitka1Joanna Hrabia-Wiśnios2Bartłomiej Płonka3Marek St. Węglowski4Aleksandra Węglowska5Piotr Śliwiński6Łukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Light Metals Centre, Pilsudskiego 19 Street, 32-050 Skawina, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Light Metals Centre, Pilsudskiego 19 Street, 32-050 Skawina, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Light Metals Centre, Pilsudskiego 19 Street, 32-050 Skawina, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Light Metals Centre, Pilsudskiego 19 Street, 32-050 Skawina, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Upper Silesian Institute of Technology, Welding Centre, Karola Miarki 12-14 Str., 44-100 Gliwice, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Upper Silesian Institute of Technology, Welding Centre, Karola Miarki 12-14 Str., 44-100 Gliwice, PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network—Upper Silesian Institute of Technology, Welding Centre, Karola Miarki 12-14 Str., 44-100 Gliwice, PolandOne of the new areas that requires extensive study of the structure and properties of welded joints is the heat-affected zone (HAZ). This issue is particularly important for new constructions made of aluminium alloys intended for battery housing for powering electric car engines. Modern welding methods, such as EBW and FSW, meet the requirements related to the high precision of the process and the quality of the welded joint itself. This article presents the results of an analysis of the structure and strengthening of the HAZ of chemically modified AlMgSi(Cu) alloys via EBW and FSW. Microstructural observation was performed via SEM for each welded joint to determine the morphology of the precipitates. In the HAZ, β-Mg<sub>2</sub>Si, Q-Al,MgCu,Si and α-Al,Fe,Si (Mn,Cu) phases with larger sizes and rounded shapes were visible than they were directly in the weld made via the EBW method. The joints produced by the FSW method were characterised by a wide weld area and an irregular weld line. Analysis of the crystallographic orientation via EBSD and grain orientation spread (GOS) revealed differences in the shape of the grains and the degree of recrystallisation in the weld area between the FSW and EBW methods. The distributions of HB (FSW) hardness and HV (EBW) microhardness measurements revealed a slight decrease in hardening in the HAZ. In joints welded by both methods, the hardness of the welds for alloys with increased copper and chromium contents increased by approximately 5%.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/2086XXX alloyelectron beam weldingfriction stir welding
spellingShingle Sonia Boczkal
Monika Mitka
Joanna Hrabia-Wiśnios
Bartłomiej Płonka
Marek St. Węglowski
Aleksandra Węglowska
Piotr Śliwiński
Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)
Crystals
6XXX alloy
electron beam welding
friction stir welding
title Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)
title_full Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)
title_fullStr Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)
title_short Analysis of the Structure and Properties of Welded Joints Made from Aluminum Alloys by Electron Beam Welding (EBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW)
title_sort analysis of the structure and properties of welded joints made from aluminum alloys by electron beam welding ebw and friction stir welding fsw
topic 6XXX alloy
electron beam welding
friction stir welding
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/208
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