Tue, 26 February, 2019
TWI recently completed a project for Flint Engineering, which focused on developing Friction Stir Welding (FSW) for fabricating next-generation heat mats.
Flint Engineering – based in East Sussex, United Kingdom – produce novel heat mats, with many identified applications, including supermarket chiller shelves, electricity-generating roof panels and automotive battery packs.
To enable greater product range offering, Flint Engineering approached TWI to develop FSW to join aluminium alloy extrusions, allowing for fabrication of large surface area covering heat mats.
TWI developed a range of processing parameters for joining the extrusions, which resulted in minimal component distortion and allowed the heat mat to hold a vacuum through 100 high-pressure thermal cycles. The image below shows a cross-section of a successful joint manufactured using a weld-flip-weld approach.
TWI value this exciting collaboration with Flint Engineering, with both companies intending to work together again very soon.
You can find out more about TWI’s work with Friction Stir Welding here.
Cross section of a successful weld