A Study of the Essential Parameters of Friction-Stir Spot Welding That Affect the D/W Ratio of SSM6061 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how the depth-to-width (D/W) ratio of the welding area affects the welding quality of the SSM6061 aluminum alloy via the friction-stir spot welding (FSSW) process. The results showed that a higher D/W ratio directly results in better mechanical properties. If the D/W ratio value is high (at 1.494), then this leads to higher tensile shear strength at 2.25 kN. On the other hand, if the D/W ratio values are low (at 1.144), then this reduces tensile shear strength to 1.17 kN. The fracture surface behavior on the ring zone also affects the characteristics of ductile fracture. During Vickers hardness analysis, the hardness profiles are in the shape of a W; the maximum hardness was 71.97 HV, resulting from the rotation speed of 3500 rpm and the dwell time of 28 s, where the hardness of the base metal was at 67.18 HV. Finite element (FEM) analysis indicated that the maximum temperature during simulation was 467 °C in the region near the edge shoulder tool, which is 72.96% of the melting point. According to FEM simulation, the temperature under the tool pin region was 369 °C. The generated heat was sufficient to induce changes in the microstructure. For microstructure changes, the globular grain took on a rosette-like form, and coarse grains were observed in the thermal mechanical affect zone (TMAZ) and in the nugget zone (NZ), transforming in the mix zone. Hooks, kissing bonds, voids, and porosity are the defects found in this experiment. These defects indicate a discontinuity in the NZ that leads to worse mechanical properties. During examination via SEM and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, the recrystallization structure from β-Mg2Si IMCs to Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 IMCs was observed. The size was reduced to an average width of 1–2 µm and an average length of 2–17 µm. Simultaneously, the oxides from the ambient atmosphere present during welding showed dominant partial elements from SiO2, MgO, and Al2O3.