Developing technology of friction stir welding of heavy gauge aluminum alloys 1570S, AMg6 for use in RSC Energia advanced designs

The paper provides a review of the friction stir welding method, its pros and cons. It presents the results of friction stir welding technology development at EMP of RSC Energia as applied to products made of heavy-gauge aluminum alloys. It describes an in-house built tool for friction stir welding of various-gauge aluminum alloys. It describes friction stir welding of aluminum alloys AMg6 and 1570S and results of mechanical tests of the welds. Feasibility was established of using friction stir welding to build nearly space-rated structures with the use of production tools developed and built by EMP specialists.