PENGARUH TOOL ROTATION SPEED TERHADAP SIFAT MEKANIK SAMBUNGAN ALUMINIUM PADUAN 6061-T6 PADA PROSES FRICTION STIR WELDING

Abstract

Friction stir welding is a newly developed welding process in 1991, and various studies have been continuously conducted to determine parameters that can produce optimum welded joints as an alternative to fusion welding process which still shows some imperfections. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of tool rotation speed, which is one of the important parameters in friction stir welding of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy plate with 6 mm thickness,  on mechanical properties of the welded joints, where variation of rotation speed applied was 910 rpm, 1175 rpm, 1555 rpm, 1700 rpm and 2000 rpm. The results show that the welded joint resulted from a speed of 910 rpm, 1175 rpm and 1555 rpm indicate no defects and satisfy the acceptance criteria of AWS D17.3 standard.  The most optimum mechanical characteristic was found for welded joint with rotation tool speed of 910 rpm because grain coarsening and dissolution of precipitate were not too significant when compared to other rotational speeds.