Effects of temper condition and post weld heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir butt-welded AA7075 Al alloy plates

In this study, AA7075-O and AA7075-T6 Al alloy plates were friction stir butt welded using two sets of weld parameters in order to investigate the effects of temper condition prior to joining and post weld heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints. Another goal of the work is to determine the possibility of restoring the loss of strength in the joint area experienced in welding of this alloy in the age-hardened condition by subsequent heat treatment. The study revealed that the friction stir welding resulted in a strength undermatching when the alloy joined in T6 condition while a significant strength overmatching was obtained in the joints produced in O temper condition. The post weld heat treatment led to a significant recovery in the strength of the joints produced in T6 condition, thus a significant increase in the joint performance. On the other hand, it led to a decrease in the joint performance value of the joints produced in O temper condition although the strength was increased. Furthermore, the post weld heat treatment resulted in abnormal grain growth in the joint area the degree of which depends on weld parameters used and the prior temper condition.