The application of friction stir welding (FSW) of aluminium alloys in shipbuilding and railway industry

The article describes possibilities of application of friction stir welding (FSW) in shipbuilding and railway industry. Actually, in these sectors of industry more and more often modern construction materials are used. The biggest restriction of implementing new materials is technological possibility of joining them. One of construction materials used in the shipbuilding is aluminum, mainly its alloy of 5xxx-aluminium-magnesium series. Its application is justified by good corrosion resistance in seawater and good mechanical attributes. Thanks to susceptibility to plastic treatment, one gains good mechanical attributes with thrice-smaller density than a density of steel, what causes triple reduction of weight of aluminum construction relative to steel one. Alloys of 5xxx series are well weldable. It is generally known that welding is not a good way to joint metals, especially the aluminum. The application of FSW with mixing allows one to change approach to production of aluminum constructions. Using aluminum plates prefabricated with FSW method allows one to reduce time needed for installation of construction and considerably decreases the production costs. The article describes technology and directions of development of friction welding of aluminum alloys of 5xxx series using FSW method. There is also shown analysis of its usefulness in ship and railway industry and comparison of mechanical attributes of weld made with electric arc using MIG (135), TIG (141) method and FSW method.