Mechanical Qualification of the Hybrid Metal Extrusion & Bonding (HYB) Process for Butt Welding of 4 mm Plates of AA6082-T6

Hybrid Metal Extrusion & Bonding (HYB) is a novel solid state joining technique mainly developed for aluminum alloys. By the use of filler material addition and plastic deformation sound joints can be produced at operational temperatures below 400°C. Here, we present the results from an exploratory investigation of the mechanical integrity of a 4 mm AA6082-T6 HYB joint, covering both hardness, tensile and Charpy V-notch testing of different weld zones. The joint is found to be free from defects like pores, internal cavities and kissing-bonds. Still, a soft heat affected zone (HAZ) is present. The joint yield strength is 54 % of the base material, while the corresponding joint efficiency is 66 %. Therefore, there is room for further optimization of the HYB process. This work is now in progress.