What is Friction Welding - Definition

Friction welding is a form of solid state welding where the heat is obtained from the mechanically induced sliding motion between the parts to be welded. In solid state welding the joint is produced by the application o f pressure without significant melting any of the work parts.

Friction welding is a form of solid state welding where the heat is obtained from the mechanically induced sliding motion between the parts to be welded. In solid state welding the joint is produced by the application o f pressure without significant melting any of the work parts. Because no melting occurs, friction welding is not a fusion welding process in the traditional sense. The weld parts are held together under pressure. Generally, the frictional heat is generated by rotating one part against the other. When certain temperature is reached, the rotational motion is seized and the pressure applied welds the parts together. The bonding process is based either on deformation or on diffusion and limited deformation, so that atomic movement (diffusion) creates new bonds between atoms of two surfaces. The time required to generate friction welds is measured in seconds.

Friction Welding – Advantages and Disadvantages

The combination of fast joining times (on the order of a few seconds) and direct heat input at the weld interface yields relatively small heat-affected zones. If automatic loading and unloading devices are installed, the machines are completely automatic. Shielding gas, flux, and filler metal need not be used. This process successfully joins a wide range of similar materials as well as a number of dissimilar metals, including aluminum to steel. This is particularly useful in aerospace, where it is used to join lightweight aluminum stock to high-strength steels.

On the other hand, the work piece has its dimensional limitations. FRW is restricted mostly for round bars with similar cross-section, pieces of other forms are still possible to wield but it is much harder. Friction welding usually uses specific rotary machine, which needs higher capital costs.

References:

Materials Science:

U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.
U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 2 and 2. January 1993.
William D. Callister, David G. Rethwisch. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction 9th Edition, Wiley; 9 edition (December 4, 2013), ISBN-13: 978-1118324578.
Eberhart, Mark (2003). Why Things Break: Understanding the World by the Way It Comes Apart. Harmony. ISBN 978-1-4000-4760-4.
Gaskell, David R. (1995). Introduction to the Thermodynamics of Materials (4th ed.). Taylor and Francis Publishing. ISBN 978-1-56032-992-3.
González-Viñas, W. & Mancini, H.L. (2004). An Introduction to Materials Science. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-07097-1.
Ashby, Michael; Hugh Shercliff; David Cebon (2007). Materials: engineering, science, processing and design (1st ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-7506-8391-3.
J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.

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Welding

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