Friction stir welding of pure titanium lap joint

The effects of welding parameters on friction stir welding of pure titanium lap joint were investigated together with the microstructural characteristics of the sound joint. Three kinds of welding defects were found under the condition of tool load control, namely, the groove-like defect, the inner cavity defect and the overheating rough surface and tool penetration defect with increasing heat input. The tool plunge depth control effectively increased the lap width compared with the tool load control, so the sound joints fractured in the base metal were acquired at 250 rev min(-1)-75 mm min(-1) and 200 rev min(-1)-50 mm min(-1). The sound joint consisted of the thermomechanically affected zone, the stir zone, the lap zone and the top layer. The microstructure was fined obviously after welding, and finer grains were observed in the lap zone and top layer.