Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new solid state welding process which is used for butt joints. FSW was invented by The Welding Institute, Cambridge, UK in 1991 and has emerged as a new process for welding of aluminum alloys. This process has made possible to weld a number of aluminum alloys that were previously not recommended (2000 series & copper containing 7000 series aluminium alloys) for welding. Because the material subjected to FSW does not melt and re-solidify, the resultant weld metal is free of porosity with lower distortion. An added advantage is that it is an environmentally friendly process. FSW is a solid state, localized thermo mechanical, joining process. In FSW, a non-consumable rotating shouldered-pin-tool is plunged into the interface between two plates being welded, until the shoulder touches the surface of the base material, and then tool is transverse along the weld line.

Dr. Vinod Kumar Rohilla - Professor Mechanical Engineering Department, CGC College of Engineering, Landran (Mohali).