Evolution of microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of special friction stir welded T-joints for an α titanium alloy

T-joints of an α titanium alloy were successfully welded by friction stir welding, and the evolution of microstructure, texture and mechanical properties were investigated. Results show that dynamic recrystallization occurs in the stir zone, and the grain morphology depends on whether the welding temperature exceeds β transus. The microhardness of the welded joint shows a W-shaped profile, with the highest values in the stir zone and the lowest ones in the heat-affected zone. The joint tensile strength in the skin direction is significantly higher than that in the stringer direction. As the rotation speed or the welding speed increase, the tensile strength of the joint increases to a maximum, followed by a drop in both the skin and stringer directions. Similarly, the joint impact toughness increases first and then decreases with the increase of rotational speed or welding speed. The impact fracture of the typical joint with 850 rpm-50 mm/min is ductile dominated by dimples. In addition, the corrosion resistance of welded joint is improved compared to that of the base material.