Interfacial Reaction during Dissimilar Friction Stir Lap Welding of Aluminum Alloy to Stainless Steel

A friction stir welded A3003 aluminum alloy /SUS304 stainless steel dissimilar lap joint was successfully produced. A sound joint that fractured at the base metal was obtained in the center region of the joint through the reaction layer of aluminum-rich intermetallic compounds with nanoorder thickness. The microstructural changes at the interface of the joint was examined by studying the hole left by the extracted welding tool produced at the end of the friction stir welding (FSW) bead using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mixed layers consisted of ultra-fined intermetallic compounds and stainless steel were observed. The stirred aluminum alloy flows onto the mixed layer after the tool transit and the joining was achieved. Based on the TEM observations, the joining process of the lap joint was also discussed.