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S. K. Das et al.
1.8.4 Automobile Industry
FSW has also been embraced by the automotive industry for production of door
panels. Many big shots in the automotive companies, viz. Ford, General Motors,
Volvo, etc., have experimentally undertaken the use of FSW for manufacturing of
drive shafts and space frames [22]. A new variant of FSW known as friction stir spot
welding (FSSW) is increasingly used for production of aluminum components for
automotive applications.
1.8.5 Power Plants
One of the applications of FSW here includes the welding of pipes intended for use in
supercritical and ultra-supercritical thermal power plants. In these power plants, fluid
at high pressure and temperature needs to be carried through pipes which need to be
joined with near about 100% efficiency. Thus, FSW offers a potential solution in this
case. Moreover, FSW can weld effectively creep resistant steel used for making these
pipes. Now, these materials utilized in the power plants should exhibit high strength
up to approximately 600 °C temperature. By employing FSW technique, the welded
zone contributes to higher thermal fatigue life. This allows them to increase the
operating temperature to a higher level and thus increase the overall efficiency of the
power plant.
1.9 Closure
FSW has really come up as a boon for the fabricating industries. Much sought
after lightweight metals, viz. aluminum, magnesium, etc., which were deemed unweldable previously can now be welded quite easily and efficiently by employing
FSW. Thus, it has been readily accepted by aerospace and marine industries which
majorly deal with these metals. The cost-effective application of FSW for hightemperature materials, viz. steel, nickel and titanium-based alloys, is also assessed
by various researchers and technocrats worldwide. The joining of dissimilar metals is
another field where FSW seems to come up handy. Thus, the future seems to be quite
bright for this welding technique. Hopefully, the small limitations of FSW are ironed
out, and we see more and more applications of this technique by smaller engineering
firms as well as by developing countries.
S. K. Das et al.
1.8.4 Automobile Industry
FSW has also been embraced by the automotive industry for production of door
panels. Many big shots in the automotive companies, viz. Ford, General Motors,
Volvo, etc., have experimentally undertaken the use of FSW for manufacturing of
drive shafts and space frames [22]. A new variant of FSW known as friction stir spot
welding (FSSW) is increasingly used for production of aluminum components for
automotive applications.
1.8.5 Power Plants
One of the applications of FSW here includes the welding of pipes intended for use in
supercritical and ultra-supercritical thermal power plants. In these power plants, fluid
at high pressure and temperature needs to be carried through pipes which need to be
joined with near about 100% efficiency. Thus, FSW offers a potential solution in this
case. Moreover, FSW can weld effectively creep resistant steel used for making these
pipes. Now, these materials utilized in the power plants should exhibit high strength
up to approximately 600 °C temperature. By employing FSW technique, the welded
zone contributes to higher thermal fatigue life. This allows them to increase the
operating temperature to a higher level and thus increase the overall efficiency of the
power plant.
1.9 Closure
FSW has really come up as a boon for the fabricating industries. Much sought
after lightweight metals, viz. aluminum, magnesium, etc., which were deemed unweldable previously can now be welded quite easily and efficiently by employing
FSW. Thus, it has been readily accepted by aerospace and marine industries which
majorly deal with these metals. The cost-effective application of FSW for hightemperature materials, viz. steel, nickel and titanium-based alloys, is also assessed
by various researchers and technocrats worldwide. The joining of dissimilar metals is
another field where FSW seems to come up handy. Thus, the future seems to be quite
bright for this welding technique. Hopefully, the small limitations of FSW are ironed
out, and we see more and more applications of this technique by smaller engineering
firms as well as by developing countries.