Microstructure and tensile properties of dissimilar submerged friction stir welds between HDPE and ABS sheets

In this paper, dissimilar lap joints of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) sheets were obtained by submerged friction stir welding. The multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were introduced into the HDPE/ABS joint in order to improve the tensile properties of the joints. The effects of different rotational rates, plunge depths, and traverse speeds on the microstructure and tensile strength of joints were investigated. Microstructural evolution of joints fabricated at different process parameters had been observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Some defects such as pores and cracks were found at inappropriate processing parameters. The tensile test was carried out as the mechanical properties of joints. The maximal tensile strength was 14.7 MPa, which reached more than 65.3 % of the parent HDPE strength.