Effect of Heat Input Conditions on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Friction-Stir-Welded Pure Copper

Defect-free friction stir welds of 5-mm-thick pure copper plates were produced in relatively low heat input conditions. The characteristics of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were investigated. The stir zone (SZ) exhibited equiaxed recrystallized grains, whose size decreased as the heat input was decreased. The percentage of high-angle grain boundaries (grain boundary misorientation angle >15 deg) in the SZ was quite high (90.2 to 94.5 pct) and increased as the heat input was increased. When the heat input was decreased, the percentage of the twin boundaries (TBs) dropped, and the number of the twin lamellas was reduced. Under a very low heat input condition, the typical characteristics of thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) were discernible; however, the TMAZ was characterized by a recrystallized grain structure at higher heat input conditions. The grains in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) were slightly coarsened compared to those in the parent material (PM), but the grain size varied a little under different parameters. The hardness of the SZ increased as the heat input was increased, and the lowest hardness appeared at the HAZs where the welds failed. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) was similar to that of the PM under various heat input conditions, but the yield strength (YS) and elongation were lower. The YS increased as the lowest hardness value increased, and the elongation decreased due to the enhanced strain localization.