Development of Ir based tool for friction stir welding of high temperature materials

Abstract

A friction stir welding (FSW) tool with high strength and high wear resistance at elevated temperature is needed to perform FSW of high temperature materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a welding tool suited for FSW of high temperature materials. It has been clarified that Ir is little oxidised at elevated temperatures and that the addition of Re within the solubility limit to Ir increases the recrystallisation temperature, the high temperature strength and the high temperature hardness of the Ir alloy. SUS304 stainless steel was successfully friction stir welded by an Ir–10 at‐%Re welding tool without significant wear.