Research Status and Prospect of Friction Stir Welding and Friction Stir Processing

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new solid-state joining process and great development has been achieved in recent years. In this article, the principle and characteristics of the FSW are presented. The effects of welding process parameters on weld, the friction-stir-welded joint microstructure and properties are also discussed. Finally, the recent development of friction stir processing and the applications of FSW are briefly introduced.