Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded AA2195-T0
Aluminum-copper-lithium alloy is a light weight metal that has been used as substitute for conventional aerospace aluminum alloys. With addition of Li element, it has lower density but higher strength. However these aluminum alloys are hard to weld by conventional fusion welding, since they often produce porosities and cracking in the weld zone. It is known that solid state welding like friction stir welding is appropriate for joining of this alloy. In this study, friction stir welding was performed on AA2195 sheets, in butt joint configuration in order to understand effects of process parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties in the weld zone. The results include the microstructural change after friction stir welding with electron microscopic analysis of precipitates.