Effect of Tool Material and Pin Configuration on Mechanical Properties of Magnesium ME20 Alloy Joint by Friction Stir Welding

Friction stir welding was used to join ME20 magnesium alloy. The effect of tool material, pin configuration, spindle speed, and feed rate on the mechanical characteristics and surface finish of the joint was studied with the aid of Taguchi's design of experiments. Statistical analysis of test results and scanning electron microscopic fractography revealed that H13 tool material and a threaded pin configuration led to marked improvements in the properties. An optimum speed of 1600 rpm of the spindle led to favorable weld strength and surface finish. The optimized parametric combination developed through the grey relational approach improved weld strength by 17.78%, joint hardness by 6%, and surface finish by 12.8%.