TWI

Friction stir welding tools of three different compositions (MS80, Q70 and Q60) of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) were tested to examine wear and fracture sensitivity. Three tools were made from each composition and were run for a total of 60 feet and 9 plunges. Welds were made on A-36 cold finished steel with no prior surface treatment using a rotation speed of 250 rpm and a travel speed of 4 mm/s. Tool temperature was controlled to between 700 and 80-0 deg.C by varying the welding parameters spindle speed, travel speed and depth of plunge. Each tool completed 18 m of weld. Tool wear was measured using a novel optical method using image processing software to convert optical comparator images to a tool profile. Tool profiles were compared for every three meters of welding for each of the three PCBN grades.

8th International Symposium, 18-20 May 2010, Session 2A: Steel, Paper 04