ABSTRACT Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state process that has reach a strong technological impact in welding of aluminum alloys. Among its advantages, it may include the ability of joining materials that are difficult to weld by fusion. In welding of heat treatable aluminum alloys, some degradation in metallurgical properties is observed, so welds show lower strength than base metal. Welding parameters define the mechanical properties of the welded joints. Small Punch Tests (SPT) allow the analysis of local properties in weld zones because small specimens are required. In this paper, two batches of samples were prepared with different welding parameters and local mechanical properties were studied by SPT tests. An AA6061-T6 sheet with thickness 3 mm was selected as base metal. Thermal cycle, axial load and another welding parameters were fully recorded. From samples taken from welded coupons, weldments were characterized mechanically and metallurgically by conventional tests for comparison with SPT results. SPT is a valuable tool to estimate local mechanical properties in FSW welds.

ABSTRACT Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid state process that has reach a strong technological impact in welding of aluminum alloys. Among its advantages, it may include the ability of joining materials that are difficult to weld by fusion. In welding of heat treatable aluminum alloys, some degradation in metallurgical properties is observed, so welds show lower strength than base metal. Welding parameters define the mechanical properties of the welded joints. Small Punch Tests (SPT) allow the analysis of local properties in weld zones because small specimens are required. In this paper, two batches of samples were prepared with different welding parameters and local mechanical properties were studied by SPT tests. An AA6061-T6 sheet with thickness 3 mm was selected as base metal. Thermal cycle, axial load and another welding parameters were fully recorded. From samples taken from welded coupons, weldments were characterized mechanically and metallurgically by conventional tests for comparison with SPT results. SPT is a valuable tool to estimate local mechanical properties in FSW welds.

ABSTRACT Superplasticity is defined by an extended plastic deformation previous to fracture, generally at high temperatures. In the mode of fine structures superplasticity, grain boundary sliding is the controlling mechanism. To achieve this fine grained structure it could be used any Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) process like Friction Stir Processing (FSP). Nevertheless, it must be consider the thermal stability of the microstructure produced, which is related to its capacity to resist heating without experiment abnormal grain growth. The use of magnesium alloys has been promoted in the automotive industry in order to reduce weight of the structures. The aim of this work is to study the thermal stability of the AZ31 friction stir processed microstructure. Sheets of 3 mm thickness were obtained in as cast condition. These sheets were FSProcessed. Samples of AZ31 FSPed were heat treated to 300, 350, 400 and 450 ºC, during 10, 30 and 60 min. These 12 conditions plus the base material were microstructurally characterized. Vickers microhardness profiles were also measured. Grain growth kinetics was analyzed and related with time and temperature.

ABSTRACT Superplasticity is defined by an extended plastic deformation previous to fracture, generally at high temperatures. In the mode of fine structures superplasticity, grain boundary sliding is the controlling mechanism. To achieve this fine grained structure it could be used any Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) process like Friction Stir Processing (FSP). Nevertheless, it must be consider the thermal stability of the microstructure produced, which is related to its capacity to resist heating without experiment abnormal grain growth. The use of magnesium alloys has been promoted in the automotive industry in order to reduce weight of the structures. The aim of this work is to study the thermal stability of the AZ31 friction stir processed microstructure. Sheets of 3 mm thickness were obtained in as cast condition. These sheets were FSProcessed. Samples of AZ31 FSPed were heat treated to 300, 350, 400 and 450 ºC, during 10, 30 and 60 min. These 12 conditions plus the base material were microstructurally characterized. Vickers microhardness profiles were also measured. Grain growth kinetics was analyzed and related with time and temperature.