Comparative investigation of friction stir welds reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets and copper in AA6082-T6 alloy

Friction stir welding (FSW) represents a solid-state welding method renowned for producing high-quality joints, particularly in aluminum alloys. This study focuses on enhancing weld strength in the aerospace alloy AA6082-T6. The research involved conducting experiments to create FSW joints in AA6082-T6 by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and copper as filler materials. Various characteristics of the joints, including microhardness, tensile strength, wear resistance, and corrosion behavior, were meticulously investigated. The experimental findings demonstrated that AA6082-T6 joints reinforced with GNPs exhibited significantly higher weld strength than conventional joints. This improvement can be attributed to the superior bonding and reinforcing effects of GNPs within the aluminum matrix. Furthermore, the GNPs incorporated joints displayed enhanced electrochemical and wear properties. This innovative approach in FSW presents a promising avenue for enhancing weld strength across diverse alloys through the integration of different reinforcement materials.