Processing and evaluation of dissimilar Al-SS friction welding of pipe configuration: Nondestructive inspection, properties, and microstructure

In the present investigation, dissimilar friction welding between AA6063-T6 and SS 304L materials of pipe joint configuration with an outer diameter 88.90 mm a wall thickness 5.4 was performed. Four different experimental conditions were varied based on visual inspection after each weld. The welded joints evaluated by vacuum leak detection, thermal shock test, pneumatic pressure tensile optical scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, diffractions, elemental mapping, hardness measurements. results revealed that Al-SS bimetallic pipes sustained ultra-high cryogenic working environments without detection. resulted in high strength 72% efficiency as compared to base material. Microstructure variations observed significant towards material close interface. intermetallic compound Fe3Al phase identified reaction layer varying 1.1 µm 2.0 µm.