Effect of Tool Shoulder Profile on Grain and Texture Development in the Weld Interface Zone of Friction-Stir-Welded...

Friction-stir-welded dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 joints have an apparent influence on grain and texture development at the weld interface due to differences in physical and chemical properties between the two aluminum alloys. In this work, the effect of tool shoulder profile on grain structure and texture evolution in the center interface zone (CIZ) and bottom interface zone (BIZ) of dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 joints were quantitatively studied by electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate that abundant fine and coarse equiaxial grains are produced in the CIZ and BIZ of the joints produced with a concentric circle shoulder (CCS) and three-helix shoulder (THS), and the average grain size of the BIZ is lower than that of the CIZ for the same CCS or THS joint. A higher degree of recrystallization occurs in the CIZ of the joint with a CCS than that of the joint with a THS, while a similar degree of recrystallization is presented in the BIZ of the two joints. For the distribution of local misorientation angle between the two sides of the interface in the same CCS or THS joint, the CIZ manifests relatively uniform behavior, while the BIZ presents the characteristics of uneven distribution. Tool shoulder profile has a significant impact on the texture components at the weld interface, which results in different types of shear textures generated in the CIZ and BIZ of the two joints. It is beneficial to make out the microstructural evolution mechanism at the weld interface in dissimilar FSW joints for engineering applications in this study.