Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a solid-state joining process that uses a non-consumable tool to join two facing workpieces without melting the workpiece material. FSW is predominantly used for welding lightweight materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloys. In the present investigation, AA6061-T6 and AZ31B-H24 alloys were joined by FSW using the following parameters: rotational speed of 400, 800, 1200 and 1600 rpm, welding speed of 30 and 60 mm/min and tilt angle of 1° and 3°. In some cases, a tool offset of 1 mm was used into the Mg-based alloy. Microstructural characteristics of the weld joints were analyzed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results show that dissimilar welds can be obtained by placing the AA6061-T6 alloy on the advancing side under two processing conditions: i) without a tool offset using a welding speed of 30 mm/min, a rotational speed of 400 rpm and a tilt angle of 1° (M7) and ii) with a tool offset and a welding speed of 30 mm/min, using a rotational speed of 1200 rpm and a tilt angle of 3° (M3). Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 intermetallic compounds were observed in the stir zone. Hardness and tensile strength of joints M7 varied from 76 to 129 HV, and 88.2 MPa respectively, and these properties varied from 95 to 153 HV, and 18.95 MPa in joints M3.

In the present work, a Cr+Mo+Si low-alloyed low-carbon steel was fabricated at laboratory scale and processed to produce multiphase advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), under thermal cycles similar to those used in a continuous annealing and galvanizing process. Cold-rolled steel samples with a microstructure constituted of pearlite, bainite, and martensite in a matrix ferrite, were subjected to an intercritical annealing (817.5 °C, 15 s) and further isothermal bainitic treatment (IBT) to investigate the effects of time (30 s, 60 s, and 120 s) and temperature (425 °C, 450 °C, and 475 °C) on the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties. Results of an in situ phase transformation analysis show that annealing in the two-phase region leads to a microstructure of ferrite + austenite; the latter transforms, on cooling to IBT, to pro-eutectoid ferrite and bainite, and the austenite-to-bainite transformation advanced during IBT holding. On final cooling to room temperature, austenite transforms to martensite, but a small amount is also retained in the microstructure. Samples with the lowest temperature and largest IBT time resulted in the highest ultimate tensile strength/ductility ratio (1230.6 MPa-16.0%), which allows to classify the steel within the third generation of AHSS. The results were related to the presence of retained austenite with appropriate stability against mechanically induced martensitic transformation.

Resumen El acero HSLA (High Strength Low Alloy) API 5L X70 es utilizado para fabricación de tuberías para transporte de hidrocarburos. La construcción de tuberías de este material involucra alta cantidad de soldadura, donde los parámetros empleados influyen directamente en las estructuras metalúrgicas y en las propiedades mecánicas del mismo cuando soldado. Así, para estudiar el impacto de los parámetros de soldadura por arco sumergido en la resistencia mecánica y dureza de la Zona Afectada por el Calor (ZAC), fue llevado a cabo un diseño central compuesto que totalizó 17 pruebas. Las variables de entrada fueron corriente, voltaje y velocidad de avance; como variables de salida se consideró resistencia a la tensión y dureza Vickers de la ZAC. Para tal estudio fue utilizado el proceso de soldadura por arco sumergido, pruebas de tensión y pruebas de dureza Vickers. Se utilizó la metodología de superficie de respuesta para el modelado y la optimización fue realizada utilizando algoritmos genéticos y la gráfica de frente de Pareto. Fueron obtenidas 16 combinaciones de parámetros con la optimización, de las cuales fue escogida una para validar los modelos. Con los resultados fue posible establecer modelos matemáticos empíricos satisfactorios para las variables de respuesta.

The present work presents a theoretical and experimental study regarding the microstructure, phase transformations and mechanical properties of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) of third generation produced by thermal cycles similar than those used in a continuous annealing and galvanizing (CAG) process. The evolution of microstructure and phase transformations were discussed from the behavior of intercritical continuous cooling transformation diagrams calculated with the software JMatPro, and further characterization of the steel by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and dilatometry. Mechanical properties were estimated with a mathematical model obtained as a function of the alloying elements concentrations by multiple linear regression, and then compared to the experimental mechanical properties determined by uniaxial tensile tests. It was found that AHSS of third generation can be obtained by thermal cycles simulating CAG lines through modifications in chemistry of a commercial AISI-1015 steel, having an ultimate tensile strength of UTS = 1020–1080 MPa and an elongation to fracture of Ef = 21.5–25.3%, and microstructures consisting of a mixture of ferrite phase, bainite microconstituent and retained austenite/martensite islands. The determination coefficient obtained by multiple linear regression for UTS and Ef was R² = 0.94 and R² = 0.84, respectively. In addition, the percentage error for UTS and Ef was 2.45–7.87% and 1.18–16.27%, respectively. Therefore, the proposed model can be used with a good approximation for the prediction of mechanical properties of low-alloyed AHSS.