Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 January 2020
Nowadays the different industries is searching continuous improvements in the welding processes of the components of its products, in order to avoid the disadvantages obtained in the past by joining their parts through conventional fusion welding processes, affecting their microstructural development and consequently decreasing the principal mechanical properties. The friction-stir welding process is a solid state technique which does not reach the melting point of the material, promoting the plasticization of the metal by controlling its microstructure and mechanical behavior. However, the after mentioned advantages are the result of an adequate control of the process parameters, so that the aim of the present investigation is to study the microstructural and mechanical development of 5052-H32 butt joints welded by FSW process using a high wear resistance tool (PCBN tool) as well as the mechanical behavior suffered.