Friction stir welding - Joining of aluminium with low heat input

Since several years Aluminium consumption worldwide shows increasing figure s. Space-, aircraft- as well as automotive industry and besides shipjards a lot of other segments are on the way to use Aluminium more extensive or tr y to minimize costs in production. Requests for cost effective, simple to u se but reliable joining methods are on the table. A new welding method, cal led Friction Stir Welding (FSW) combines a lot of advantages for Welding of extrusion-, plate- and cast Aluminium in practice. One of the most importa nt advantages of FSW is the low heat input resulting in lower distortion co mpared to fusion welding. Friction Stir Welding is already in use for segme nts in ships, cooling blocks, chassis for electromotors, waggon parts and s oon also in rocket ranks. The welding method FSW and its advantages, limita tions and use is described.