Effect of PWHT on Behaviors of Precipitates and Hardness distribution of 6061 Al alloy Joints by Friction Stir Welding Method

摘要

The hardness distribution related to the precipitates behaviors as friction stir welded and PWHT (post weld heat treated) 6061 Al alloy have been investigated. Frictional heat and plastic flow during friction stir welding created a fine, eqiuaxed and elongated microstructure near the weld zone due to dynamic recovery and recrystallization. A softened region which had been formed near the weld zone couldn't be avoidable due to the dissolution and coarsening of the strengthening precipitates. PWHT (SHT+ Aging) homogeneously recovered the hardness distribution over that of the base metal without softening region, resulted from non-homogeneously distributed hardness only aging treated. 36ks aging followed by SHT gave a higher hardness overall weld than that of the base metal due to a higher density of the spherical shaped precipitate.