Microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion of friction stir welded Al 5456

Friction stir welds in Al 5456 were analyzed to determine their microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior as a function of position across the transverse cross-section of the weld. The microstructural evolution that occurred in each weld-affected region was correlated to the properties of those regions to determine the microstructural basis for the observed tensile, fatigue, and corrosion properties. In particular, the effects of weld-induced deformation recovery (both in terms of reduced dislocation density and its implications on solute content and precipitation), grain growth, and precipitate evolutions will be discussed.