Investigation on the Effect of Friction Time on Microstructural Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Linear Friction Welded Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Joints

The Linear Friction Welding process is a new variant of Friction Welding and is widely employed to fabricate aero-engine components. The quality of the joint is enhanced by LFW process parameters such as friction pressure, friction time, oscillation frequency, forging pressure, and forging times. This investigation attempted to evaluate the effect of friction time (20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 s) on joint characteristics and weld integrity. Microstructure study fine recrystallized grains at the Fully Deformed Zone (FDZ) and deformed coarse grains at the interface of FDZ and Thermo-Mechanically Affected Zone (TMAZ). The microhardness map revealed a symmetric profile, and the weld center produced the highest value at 40 s friction time. The tensile strength of welded samples had a maximum joint efficiency of 97.2% and a minimum of 94.2% to the base metal.

Automated summary

Linear Friction Welding is a suitable method for manufacturing aero-engine components, and the joint quality can be improved by adjusting process parameters. This study found that friction time has an impact on joint characteristics and weld integrity, and the appropriate friction time can enhance microhardness and tensile strength of the weld.