Industrial Need
The use of FSW and FSP for the fabrication and processing of light metals is well established, and is now seeing commercial applications developing in intermediate plasticisation temperature metals such as copper. Steel and ferrous alloys however represent over 80% of the engineering materials in use and thus a far larger potential market sector in which to exploit the capabilities of FSW.
The recent development of FSW tools capable of producing industrially useful weld lengths in steel, combined with the enhanced properties of these welds when compared with fusion welds, has stimulated interest within the market and led to an increasing number of enquiries regarding the FSW of steel. Examples of such interest are:
BAE Surface Fleet (shipbuilding).
Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (steel waste containment canisters).
Australian National Science and Technology Organisation (ODS steels in radiation service).
Objectives
The objectives of this work are:
To maintain TWI’s position in ferrous FSW technology.
To develop an increased understanding of the FSW process parameter microstructure mechanical property relationships in ferrous alloys.
To provide member companies with data on the mechanical, distortion and corrosion properties of FSW in ferrous alloys that will allow them to begin planning for the industrial deployment of ferrous FSW.
Relevant Industry Sectors
Oil and Gas, Shipbuilding