Influences of Welding Speed on Tensile Properties of Friction Stir Welded AZ61A Magnesium Alloy

This article reports the influences of welding speed on tensile properties of the friction stir welded AZ61A magnesium alloy. Five different welding speeds ranging from 30 to 150 mm/min were used to fabricate the joints. Tensile properties of the joints were evaluated and correlated with the stir zone microstructure and hardness. From this investigation, it is found that the joint fabricated with a welding speed of 90 mm/min exhibited the acceptable tensile properties compared to other joints. The formation of fine grains in the stir zone is the main reason for the higher hardness and acceptable tensile properties of these joints.