Effect of pin rotational speed on microstructure and properties of SSFSW weld for thick-plate magnesium alloy

The thick-plates of AZ31B magnesium alloy with 9 mm thickness were joined successfully by stationary shoulder friction stir welding (SSFSW) to explore the influence of stirring needle speed (500 – 1000 r/min) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of weld. The results show that the butt weld with smooth surface and no internal defects can be obtained at the rotation speed of 600 − 800 r/min under the given welding speed of 80 mm/min. When the rotation speed is 1000 r/min, discontinuous pits appear on the surface but there are still no defects in the weld. With the increase of rotating speed, the grain size increase from (11.11 ± 1.68) μm to (18.95 ± 1.83) μm. At 700 r/min, the grain size difference in the nugget zone is the smallest along the plate thickness. The inhomogeneity of hardness distribution in the WNZ decreases with the increase of rotational speed. The maximum difference of hardness in the middle of the plate thickness is 10.97 HV, and the minimum hardness is 47 HV at the interface between the heat affected zone and the nugget zone of the advancing side. The joint has the best mechanical properties at 700 r/min, the strength coefficient is 90.2% and the corresponding elongation is 69.3% of the BM. With the increase of rotational speed, the fracture mode changes from ductile-brittle mixed fracture to shear-ductile mixed fracture.