Mechanical and Microstructure Characterization of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Friction Stir Welded Joints

Abstract

In light of the current circumstances, it is expected that there will be a significant increase in demand for polymeric components and goods. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic material that is toughened with rubber and composed of three distinct monomeric units, namely acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Typically, elastomer particles based on butadiene are grafted onto a matrix of styrene/acrylonitrile (SAN) in order to achieve the required level of toughness. ABS, as a constituent of the thermoplastic family, exhibits the characteristic of becoming malleable and flexible upon exposure to heat and subsequently solidifies upon cooling without undergoing any significant alteration to its inherent properties. ABS can be subjected to thermal treatment, which involves heating and cooling, in order to facilitate its reuse and recycling. The welding of ABS has experienced an equivalent spike in demand and growth due to the robust growth of ABS application in areas such as electrical and electronic application, machine prototype construction, pipes and fittings, medical applications, gardening tools, the aerospace industry, and the Automotive industry. Currently, polymers constitute approximately 15-20% of the overall weight of a vehicle. In the past decade, the swift proliferation of electric vehicles on a global scale has compelled researchers to explore lightweight materials. In 2020, there was a notable increase of 41% in the registration of electric vehicles, while a corresponding decrease of 16% was observed in car sales. In light of the current circumstances, it is highly probable that there will be a significant increase in demand for polymeric components and goods. newlineThe current study aimed to address this challenge by conducting friction stir welding of ABS polymer and examining the impact of FSW parameters on the quality of the weld.