Experimental Study on the Effects of Rotational Speed and Attack Angle on High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Friction Stir Welded Butt Joints

摘要

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a novel solid-state welding process and has been employed in several industries such as aerospace and automotive. Several parameters such as rotational speed, welding speed, axial force and attack angle play critical roles in FSW process in order to analyze the weld quality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different rotational speeds and attack angles on the weld quality of high density polyethylene (HDPE). In the optimum welding condition, 75% of the base material strength is achieved. SEM micrographs show the changes of the weld microstructure which result in the reduction of the strength and the percent of elongation.