Various Metals

Aluminum

Aluminum is broadly suited to Friction Stir Welding yielding excellent properties across virtually all alloy families. Of particular note is the joining of “unweldable” alloys such as 7XXX.

Copper/Copper Alloys

Copper and copper alloys are excellent candidates for Friction Stir Welding yielding better properties than traditional oven brazing or tool-based brazing, and can be done without flux or special atmosphere. Copper nickel is particularly successful when nickel content is 20% or below.

Magnesium & Titanium

Alloys of these base metals are candidates for FSW although special controls are required to avoid excess oxidation. The most common control technique is inert shielding gas.

Ferrous Metals

Ferrous metals weld with excellent properties using FSW but satisfactory FSW tool life often requires exotic tool materials. Consequently FSW is typically limited to very high value applications where the degradation of properties caused by oxidative thermal welding must be avoided.