System, method and apparatus for reinforcing friction stir processed joints

摘要

Friction stir welded joints are reinforced with a strengthening material (45) that is applied directly to the joint surfaces (35) to counteract the loss of desirable physical properties in the workpieces being joined. The strengthening material is stirred into the weld nugget (51) during processing and locates at the bond interfaces to form a more robust joint. The reinforcing substance is distributed throughout the nugget and counterbalances the loss of strength due to dissolution of the precipitates during processing.