In modern transport, materials with different properties are combined. This makes the most important structural elements both light and strong. In this respect, the combination of aluminum and titanium alloys is considered the most attractive. However, incompatible thermophysical characteristics of these materials make permanent joining significantly more difficult.
According to researchers at the Institute of Materials Science and Innovative Nanotechnologies of Belgorod State University, the problem can be solved with an innovative friction stir welding method. Applied to aluminum and titanium alloys, however, this technology usually causes intensive wear of the working tool. That leads to formation of a brittle intermetallic layer at the interface of the materials being welded. Therefore, to obtain high-strength welded joints of aluminum and titanium alloys, scientists had to improve the welding method.
The new development will make it possible to abandon costly tungsten carbide working tools. Scientists will continue research in this area. The study was carried out under a Russian Science Foundation project.
Source: bel-pobeda.ru
