Friction Stir Welding of Innovative High Strength Aluminium Alloys

As the world's second most widely used metal (after iron), aluminium (Al) and its alloys play a crucial role in decarbonizing the transportation sector and achieving climate neutrality for both the EU and our world.

Essentially, Al-alloys reinforced with quasicrystalline (QC) phases have the potential to be used as the main structural material in e-vehicles due to their strength, lightness, corrosion resistance, recyclability and formability.

However, during the joining process of larger parts, the realised temperature may affect the microstructure and mechanical properties due to the strong flow of the material and the transformation of intermetallic phases. In this project, the process parameters of friction stir welding will be defined to obtain high-quality joints.

The joints will be developed using an interdisciplinary approach combining reliable microbeam analysis technique electron backscatter diffraction, product and process engineering to determine optimal process parameters as well as tool design and management to obtain process automation.

The collaboration between the Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology (ACMiN) of AGH University of Krakow and non-academic partner Iskra ISD will provide the researcher with the highest possible skills and competencies that will contribute to EU competitiveness and growth in the field of novel alloys reinforced with QC.

Working closely with industrial partner Iskra ISD, the developed technology will be carefully validated.

Completion of the project will represent a major step forward in the applicability of novel Al-alloys and contribute to a significant reduction in resource consumption and GHG emissions.