FSW of AA 2139 Plates: Influence of the Temper State on the Mechanical Properties

Nowadays the fibre reinforced materials are finding more and more widespread use in aeronautic field due to their features of lightness, high strength and flexibility of manufacturing systems. The only way for metals to remain competitive for the aerospace applications is to improve new technologies and alloys in order to realize lighter and more resistant structures. The development of new alloys (lighter and stronger) and technologies will allow to use metals also in the future for aerospace applications. In this scenario the research activity has a fundamental importance, and the key point is to work simultaneously on both innovative materials and new technologies that allow to obtain the best performances with the innovative alloys. Welding is nowadays playing a fundamental role in transport industry thanks to the important advantages it allows. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) [1] is one of the most promising welding techniques, particularly suitable for applying to light alloys. FSW in butt joint configuration allows to achieve very high mechanical performances, often absolutely superior to those achievable with all other joining techniques, and lots of researches and results are now available [2]. The AA 2139 is an innovative Al-Cu-Ag alloy that has higher mechanical performances than the conventional 2xxx series aluminum alloys. The AA 2139 is designed to work in service in T8 temper condition, but is simplest to work in T3 temper condition. The aim of this work is to compare the performances of AA 2139 butt joints welded in T8 temper conditions, presented in a previous work [3], with the ones of joints welded in T3 condition and heat treated post welding in order to achieve the T8 temper condition.