Load controlled cyclic fatigue testing was conducted on base metal (BM) and friction stir welded (FSW) magnesium (Mg) alloy AZ31B compact tension (CT) specimens in laboratory air and a 0.05 wt. % NaCl fog environment in efforts to delineate the effects of salt fog and stir welding on fatigue performance under tension-tension loading conditions. FSW beads were produced on single piece AZ31B sheet product, simulating a pristine friction stir butt weld. Optical and electron microscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction was employed to observe the features and characteristics of fracture surfaces. The resulting stress vs. number of cycles to failure (S-N) curves demonstrated a reduction in fatigue life in a salt fog environment and an increase in fatigue life for FSW specimens compared to equivalently loaded BM specimens. Tensile frame displacement data indicated that the salt fog environment had an immediate effect on the BM samples, with an increased displacement required to meet the load control criteria. Fatigue cracks that propagated in CT samples that were notched in the direction of FSW tool travel consistently propagated towards the retreating side (RS) of the stir zone. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

In an effort to save weight, transportation and aerospace industries have increasing investigated magnesium alloys because of their high strength-to-weight ratio. Further efforts to save on material use and machining time have focused on the use of additive manufacturing. However, anisotropic properties can be caused by both the HCP structure of magnesium alloys as well as by layered effects left by typical additive manufacturing processes. Additive Friction Stir (AFS) is a relatively new additive manufacturing technology that yields wrought microstructure with isotropic properties. In this study, Additive Friction Stir (AFS) fabrication was used to fabricate WE43 magnesium alloy, with both atomized powder and rolled plate as filler material, into multilayered structures. It was found that the WE43 alloy made by AFS exhibited nearly isotropic tensile properties. With aging these properties exceeded the base material in the T5 condition. The toughness measured by Charpy impact testing also showed an increase over the base material. The relationships among tensile properties, Vickers microhardness, impact toughness, microstructure and thermal history are developed and discussed. / Master of Science

A monitorização terapêutica tem sido descrita como valioso recurso clínico, na individualização do regime de dosagem, de acordo com a concentração do fármaco e/ou de seus produtos de biotransformação, em amostras de plasma ou soro, coletadas com base no contexto clínico e nos princípios da farmacocinética. Em razão da complexidade dos fluidos biológicos e da baixa concentração dos fármacos nestas matrizes, a etapa de preparo de amostra, extração, pré-concentração dos analitos e eliminação dos interferentes, têm sido requerida para o desenvolvimento de métodos cromatográficos com alta sensibilidade e seletividade analítica. A extração sortiva em barra de agitação (SBSE), recente técnica de preparo de amostra, baseia-se no equilíbrio de sorção do analito entre as fases: extratora (polidimetilsiloxano) e amostra aquosa. A fase extratora PDMS é a única disponível no mercado, o que tem limitado a sensibilidade e a seletividade analítica da técnica SBSE. O uso de polipirrol (PPY) como fase extratora está relacionado às diferentes interações de seus grupos funcionais (hidrofóbica, -, com o grupo funcional polar, troca iônica, ácido-básica, dipolo-dipolo e dipolo induzido-dipolo.) com os analitos. Neste trabalho, uma nova fase extratora SBSE, com o revestimento misto PDMS/PPY foi avaliada para análises de antidepressivos em amostras de plasma, por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. A otimização das variáveis SBSE: tempo e temperatura de extração, tempo de dessorção e pH da matriz biológica, baseada no equilíbrio de sorção dos analitos entre as fases: polimérica (PDMS/PPY) e fluido biológico, permitiu a determinação dos analitos em concentrações plasmáticas que contemplam o intervalo terapêutico. A presença de estrutura porosa (PPY) e não porosa (PDMS) na superfície polimérica da barra extratora SBSE-PDMS/PPY foi confirmada através de análises por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). De acordo, com os resultados obtidos nas análises de MEV e nas análises (individuais e simultâneas) de amostras de plasma enriquecidas com os analitos, os mecanismos de retenção dos fármacos junto à superfície PDMS/PPY ocorreram através dos processos de adsorção (PPY) e absorção (PDMS). A validação analítica foi realizada segundo as normas da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. O método padronizado apresentou linearidade no intervalo de concentração plasmática que variou dos limites de quantificação a 500 ng mL-1, coeficientes de determinação maiores que 0,994, precisão inter ensaios com coeficientes de variação menores que 15% e exatidão de 96% a 106%. Os valores de limites de quantificação obtidos são congruentes com a menor concentração plasmática do intervalo terapêutico preconizado. O método SBSE-PDMS/PPY padronizado e validado foi utilizado para determinações dos antidepressivos, sertralina, duloxetina e fluoxetina em amostras de plasma de pacientes, em terapia com estes fármacos. Desta forma, o método SBSE-PDMS/PPY poderá ser empregado para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / Therapeutic drug monitoring has been described a valuable clinical resource for the customization of the dosage regimen, in accordance with the drug concentration and/or its biotransformation products, in of plasma or serum samples, collected on the basis of clinical context and pharmacokinetics principles. Due the complexity of biological fluids and the low concentration of the drug in these matrices, an stage of sample preparation, extraction, pre-concentration of the analytes and elimination of the interferents has been required for the development of chromatographic methods with high sensitivity and analytical selectivity. Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), a recent sample preparation technique, is based on the sorption equilibrium of the analytes between the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and aqueous phases. PDMS is the only commercially available extraction phase (SBSE), which has limited the analytical sensitivity and the selectivity of the SBSE technique. The use of polypyrrole (PPY) as extraction phase is related to the different interactions of its functional groups (- interactions, polar groups interactions, acid-base, dipole-dipole, dipole-induced-dipole) and the analytes. In this work, a new SBSE extraction phase, with a PDMS/PPY coating was evaluated for the analysis of antidepressants in plasma samples by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The optimization of the SBSE variables extraction time and temperature, dessorption time and pH of the biological matrix based on the sorption equilibrium of the analytes between the polymeric (PDMS/PPY) and biological fluid phases, allowed determination of the analytes in plasmatic concentrations that correspond to the therapeutic interval. The presence of a porous structure (PPY) as well as no none, porous (PDMS), on the polymeric surface of SBSE-PDMS/PPY was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses. In agreement with the results obtained by SEM analyses and individual and simultaneous analyses of the plasma samples spiked with the analytes, the mechanisms of drugs retention on the surface of PDMS/PPY occur through adsorption (PPY) and absorption (PDMS). Analytical validation was carried through according to the norms of the National Agency of Sanitary Vigilance. The standardized method presented linearity in the plasmatic interval concentrations that varied from the limits of quantification to 500 ng mL-1, the determination coefficients were higher than 0.994, inter precision assays with coefficients of variation lower than 15%, and accuracy from 96% to 106%. The quantification value limits were in agreement with the lowest plasmatic concentration of the established therapeutical interval. The standardized and validated SBSE-PDMS/PPY method was used for determination of sertraline, duloxetine and fluoxetine in plasma patient samples under therapy with these drugs. Thus, the SBSE-PDMS/PPY method could be used for therapeutic drug monitoring.

In this study, a novel assembled-type tool was used to weld SS400 low-carbon steel plate using the friction stir spot welding. The welding tool was made of tungsten carbide embedded a circular rod made of the low-carbon steel. The superiority of this embedded material not only could effectively promote the interface temperature of the joint, but also the thickness of stir zone. Compared to previous studies, this novel tool can significantly improve the manufacturing cost and the trimming time. The welding apparatus composed of a vertical milling machine and a welding platform. The operating conditions of welding were as followings: the diameter of embedded material, the welding speed, and the vertical load. During the welding process, the interface temperature of the joint, the tool plunge depth, and the vertical load were simultaneously measured by the K-type thermocouple, a displacement sensor, and a load cell. Experimental results revealed that the interface temperature, the thickness of the stir zone, and the tensile strength of the welding joint was proportional to the diameter of the embedded material. The best welding condition is the embedded material diameter of 10mm, the vertical load of 8kN, the welding speed of 1200rpm, and the welding time of 100 seconds.

A monitorização terapêutica tem sido descrita como valioso recurso clínico, na individualização do regime de dosagem, de acordo com a concentração do fármaco e/ou de seus produtos de biotransformação, em amostras de plasma ou soro, coletadas com base no contexto clínico e nos princípios da farmacocinética. Em razão da complexidade dos fluidos biológicos e da baixa concentração dos fármacos nestas matrizes, a etapa de preparo de amostra, extração, pré-concentração dos analitos e eliminação dos interferentes, têm sido requerida para o desenvolvimento de métodos cromatográficos com alta sensibilidade e seletividade analítica. A extração sortiva em barra de agitação (SBSE), recente técnica de preparo de amostra, baseia-se no equilíbrio de sorção do analito entre as fases: extratora (polidimetilsiloxano) e amostra aquosa. A fase extratora PDMS é a única disponível no mercado, o que tem limitado a sensibilidade e a seletividade analítica da técnica SBSE. O uso de polipirrol (PPY) como fase extratora está relacionado às diferentes interações de seus grupos funcionais (hidrofóbica, -, com o grupo funcional polar, troca iônica, ácido-básica, dipolo-dipolo e dipolo induzido-dipolo.) com os analitos. Neste trabalho, uma nova fase extratora SBSE, com o revestimento misto PDMS/PPY foi avaliada para análises de antidepressivos em amostras de plasma, por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. A otimização das variáveis SBSE: tempo e temperatura de extração, tempo de dessorção e pH da matriz biológica, baseada no equilíbrio de sorção dos analitos entre as fases: polimérica (PDMS/PPY) e fluido biológico, permitiu a determinação dos analitos em concentrações plasmáticas que contemplam o intervalo terapêutico. A presença de estrutura porosa (PPY) e não porosa (PDMS) na superfície polimérica da barra extratora SBSE-PDMS/PPY foi confirmada através de análises por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). De acordo, com os resultados obtidos nas análises de MEV e nas análises (individuais e simultâneas) de amostras de plasma enriquecidas com os analitos, os mecanismos de retenção dos fármacos junto à superfície PDMS/PPY ocorreram através dos processos de adsorção (PPY) e absorção (PDMS). A validação analítica foi realizada segundo as normas da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. O método padronizado apresentou linearidade no intervalo de concentração plasmática que variou dos limites de quantificação a 500 ng mL-1, coeficientes de determinação maiores que 0,994, precisão inter ensaios com coeficientes de variação menores que 15% e exatidão de 96% a 106%. Os valores de limites de quantificação obtidos são congruentes com a menor concentração plasmática do intervalo terapêutico preconizado. O método SBSE-PDMS/PPY padronizado e validado foi utilizado para determinações dos antidepressivos, sertralina, duloxetina e fluoxetina em amostras de plasma de pacientes, em terapia com estes fármacos. Desta forma, o método SBSE-PDMS/PPY poderá ser empregado para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / Therapeutic drug monitoring has been described a valuable clinical resource for the customization of the dosage regimen, in accordance with the drug concentration and/or its biotransformation products, in of plasma or serum samples, collected on the basis of clinical context and pharmacokinetics principles. Due the complexity of biological fluids and the low concentration of the drug in these matrices, an stage of sample preparation, extraction, pre-concentration of the analytes and elimination of the interferents has been required for the development of chromatographic methods with high sensitivity and analytical selectivity. Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), a recent sample preparation technique, is based on the sorption equilibrium of the analytes between the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and aqueous phases. PDMS is the only commercially available extraction phase (SBSE), which has limited the analytical sensitivity and the selectivity of the SBSE technique. The use of polypyrrole (PPY) as extraction phase is related to the different interactions of its functional groups (- interactions, polar groups interactions, acid-base, dipole-dipole, dipole-induced-dipole) and the analytes. In this work, a new SBSE extraction phase, with a PDMS/PPY coating was evaluated for the analysis of antidepressants in plasma samples by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The optimization of the SBSE variables extraction time and temperature, dessorption time and pH of the biological matrix based on the sorption equilibrium of the analytes between the polymeric (PDMS/PPY) and biological fluid phases, allowed determination of the analytes in plasmatic concentrations that correspond to the therapeutic interval. The presence of a porous structure (PPY) as well as no none, porous (PDMS), on the polymeric surface of SBSE-PDMS/PPY was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses. In agreement with the results obtained by SEM analyses and individual and simultaneous analyses of the plasma samples spiked with the analytes, the mechanisms of drugs retention on the surface of PDMS/PPY occur through adsorption (PPY) and absorption (PDMS). Analytical validation was carried through according to the norms of the National Agency of Sanitary Vigilance. The standardized method presented linearity in the plasmatic interval concentrations that varied from the limits of quantification to 500 ng mL-1, the determination coefficients were higher than 0.994, inter precision assays with coefficients of variation lower than 15%, and accuracy from 96% to 106%. The quantification value limits were in agreement with the lowest plasmatic concentration of the established therapeutical interval. The standardized and validated SBSE-PDMS/PPY method was used for determination of sertraline, duloxetine and fluoxetine in plasma patient samples under therapy with these drugs. Thus, the SBSE-PDMS/PPY method could be used for therapeutic drug monitoring.

L’allègement des structures est actuellement un enjeu industriel majeur. L’utilisation de certains alliages d’aluminium couplés à de nouveaux procédés d’assemblages est une bonne réponse à cette problématique. Le procédé de soudage FSW permet notamment la réalisation d’assemblages multi-matériaux en s’affranchissant des problèmes de fusion. Cette étude, réalisée au sein de l’entreprise TRA-C industrie, s’est intéressée plus particulièrement au cas du soudage FSW hétérogène d’alliages d’aluminium des séries 2xxx (Al-Cu-Mg-Ag) et 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg), dans une large gamme de paramètres industriels. Les caractérisations des assemblages ont pu mettre en avant de fortes hétérogénéités microstructurales et mécaniques au travers des cordons. Ainsi la présence d’une zone faible, adoucie dans la ZAT du côté de l’alliage 7xxx, amène à favoriser la rupture en traction. Une évolution métallurgique importante déclenchée par le cycle thermique généré explique principalement ce phénomène. D’autre part, cette étude expérimentale a été couplée à des travaux de simulation numérique du procédé en configuration homogène. Le modèle éléments finis intègre, pour la première fois, la géométrie réelle et complexe (filetage, facettes, …) de l’outil de soudage utilisé expérimentalement et est couplé à l’utilisation d’une technique de maillage mobile. Cette technique numérique a permis de s’affranchir intégralement des distorsions de mailles conséquentes souvent rencontrées, ainsi que de décrire fidèlement les effets thermomécaniques engendrés par l’outil de soudage. Une étude de sensibilité aux paramètres de soudage ainsi qu’aux matériaux soudés a démontré une excellente corrélation entre les cinétiques thermiques expérimentales et numériques tout en démontrant l’aspect prédictif du modèle. / The lightweight structures optimisation is one of the main topics in transportation industry. It can be achieved by optimisation of materials as well as induced assembly process. As a solid-state process, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) allows to produce dissimilar materials joining while avoiding fusion defects. This work focused on the dissimilar welding of aluminium alloys from 2xxx (Al-Cu-Mg-Ag) and 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg) series in an industrial context. Joints characterizations were conducted at multiple scales to understand parameters impact on material flow, joint morphology, and performances. They have shown large heterogeneities in the microstructure as well as the global and local mechanical behaviour. Whatever the welding parameters used, good mechanical performance has been reached. A specific softened zone has been detected in the 7xxx alloy’s HAZ which caused fracture during transverse tensile test. Significant metallurgical evolution induced by thermal cycles mainly explains these phenomena.On the other hand, simulation works were also conducted to simulate the welding process in similar material configuration. The finite elements model integrates, for the first time, the real and complex tool design (thread, flats…). Complex geometry can be used by coupling with a specific moving mesh technique. This numerical development completely overcomes the consequent mesh distortion often encountered in FSW simulation. The current model presents good sensitivity and robustness for several welding conditions and materials. It also demonstrates an excellent correlation between experimental and numerical thermal fields while revealing the predictive aspect of the model.

A l'heure où les matériaux composites prennent une part toujours plus importante dans les structures aéronautiques, l'utilisation de l'alliage d'aluminium-lithium 2050 assemblé par Friction Stir Welding (FSW) est envisagé pour remplacer les structures rivetées en alliages d'aluminium traditionnels. L'objectif global de ce travail de thèse était d'étudier le comportement en corrosion et en corrosion sous contrainte de joints soudés FSW de l'alliage d'aluminium-lithium 2050 mais aussi l'influence d'un post-traitement thermique sur les comportements observés. Dans ce but, la microstructure, le comportement mécanique et le comportement en corrosion et en corrosion sous contrainte de l'alliage 2050 servant de matériau de base à l'élaboration des joints soudés FSW ont d'abord été analysés ; ensuite, nous nous sommes focalisés sur le comportement en corrosion et en corrosion sous contrainte des structures FSW proprement dites, en analysant bien entendu la microstructure complexe de ces joints soudés et les propriétés mécaniques résultantes. Les résultats obtenus montrent que l'alliage 2050, bien que sensible à certaines formes de corrosion, semble bien plus performant que les alliages d'aluminium traditionnellement utilisés en aéronautique. Sa sensibilité à la corrosion sous contrainte notamment est très faible. Les structures FSW, après traitement thermique post soudage, ont également un très bon comportement en corrosion et en corrosion sous contrainte. Les joints soudés FSW de l'alliage d'aluminium-lithium 2050 apparaissent donc comme une solution très prometteuse pour l'industrie aéronautique. / Today, composite materials are more and more used for aircraft structures; however, the aluminium-lithium 2050 alloy joined using a Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process could be used to replace riveted structures made of traditional aluminium alloys. The aim of this PhD work was to study the corrosion behaviour and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviour of FSW joints of aluminium-lithium 2050 alloy and also the influence of a post welding heat treatment on the behaviours observed. Therefore, the microstructure, the mechanical behaviour and the corrosion and SCC behaviour of the 2050 alloy used for the FSW joints were first analyzed; then, the work was focused on the corrosion and SCC behaviours of the FSW joints. The complex microstructure of the FSW joints and the resultant mechanical properties were studied. The results showed that the 2050 alloy was more corrosion resistant than traditional aluminium alloys used for aircrafts even if it was susceptible to intergranular and/or intragranular corrosion. Its susceptibility to SCC was very low. The FSW joints, after a post welding heat treatment, also show a low susceptibility to corrosion and SCC. As a conclusion, the FSW joints of 2050 alloy seem to be a relevant solution to replace riveted structures of traditional aluminium alloys.

Rising demand for improved fuel economy and structural efficiency are the key factors for use of aluminum alloys for light weighting in aerospace industries. Precipitation strengthened 2XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys are the key aluminum alloys used extensively in aerospace industry. Welding and joining is the critical step in manufacturing of integrated structures. Joining of precipitation strengthened aluminum alloys using conventional fusion welding techniques is difficult and rather undesirable in as it produces dendritic microstructure and porosities which can undermine the structural integrity of weldments. Friction stir welding, invented in 1991, is a solid state joining technique inherently benefitted to reduces the possibility of common defects associated with fusion based welding techniques. Weldability of various 2XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys via friction stir welding was investigated. Microstructural and mechanical property evolution during welding and after post weld heat treatment was studied using experimental techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, hardness testing, and tensile testing. Various factors such as peak welding temperature, cooling rate, external cooling methods (thermal management) which affects the strength of the weldment were studied. Post weld heat treatment of AL-Mg-Li alloy produced joint as strong as the parent material. Modified post weld heat treatment in case of welding of Al-Zn-Mg alloy also resulted in near 100% joint efficiency whereas the maximum weld strength achieved in case of welds of Al-Cu-Li alloys was around 80-85% of parent material strength. Low dislocation density and high nucleation barrier for the precipitates was observed to be responsible for relatively low strength recovery in Al-Cu-Li alloys as compared to Al-Mg-Li and Al-Zn-Mg alloys.

Yes / The performance of the modified friction stir clinched and friction stir spot welded joints of AA5754-O and AA2024-T3 Al alloy was improved by investigating the impact of material flow influencing parameters such as material positioning and tool rotational speed on the microstructure, mechanical and fracture behaviors of the joints. The results reveal that the positioning of a harder material (AA2024-T3) as the upper plate induces higher peak temperatures in the friction stir clinched (500 °C) and friction stir spot welded (475 °C) joints. This positioning favors inter-material mingling, grain coarsening with inherent higher dislocation density and tangles, and improved tensile failure loads in the AA2024-T3/AA5754-O joint than the AA5754-O/AA2024-T3 joint. The formation of partial weld-center defect declines in the AA2024-T3/AA5754-O at low tool rotational speed due to the better local heat build-up and geometric-differential flow effect in comparison with the AA5754-O/AA2024-T3 counterparts. The positioning of harder Al alloy on the top of a soft Al alloy is thus recommended for the improvement of modified friction stir clinched joints.

Out of the known aerospace metal and alloys, Aluminium (Al) and Titanium (Ti) are important due to their unique combination of properties, such as strength, ductility and corrosion resistance etc. For these reasons, welding of these two materials, especially in the butt and lap configuration, has a significant impact for structural applications. However, welding of Al to Ti is a challenge due to wide differences in their physical properties and properties of the brittle intermetallic that are formed. Such problems in Ti-Al weld can be minimized if the temperature of welding is reduced. Therefore, many solid-state welding processes have been introduced for this system in the past few decades. Amongst these processes, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is among the most appropriate for dissimilar materials in the butt and lap configuration, as this process involves lower temperature of processing. The present thesis is an attempt to address the issues pertaining to the friction stir welding of commercially pure Al and Ti. Though these commercially pure materials are seldom used in actual applications, where alloys such as Ti-6Al-4V and Al 2219 (and their variants) are used, this work is done to get a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms during Friction Stir Welding (FSW). The study has been extended to the effect of using a thin strip of other metallic materials between Al and Ti. These inserts are likely to play a role in the formation of intermetallic and control the after effects of the formation of these intermetallic. Two metals have been chosen for this purpose, namely Zinc (Zn) and Niobium (Nb). The thesis has 8 chapters that attempts to systematically understand the process of FSW of cp-Al to cp-Ti. In Chapter 1 of the thesis, the FSW process is introduced with an emphasis on important parameters that control the welding process. In addition, a brief introduction of Al-Ti binary system is also given. Literature related to conventional solid state welding processes and friction stir welding process is presented in Chapter 2. In this chapter, previous works on the FSW of various materials is reviewed, with more emphasis on welding of aluminium to titanium. At the end of the chapter the scope and motivation of the present investigation has been outlined Chapter 3 includes the experimental details involved in the present study. In addition to the details of the processes and various characterization techniques used in the present investigation, the basic principles involved in various techniques, names as X-ray tomography, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction (EBSD), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Electron Probe Micro-Analysis (EPMA) have also been given. Micro-hardness and tensile tests results are also reported in this chapter. A detailed study on FSW of Al and Ti is presented in chapter 4 of the thesis. The effect of process parameters on the evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties has been reported. A bottom-up approach on experimentally determining the “process window” is presented. The results emphasises on the distribution of titanium fragments and intermetallic particles in the nugget zone and their influence on mechanical properties of the weld. The microstructural evolution in the matrix is also detailed. The most noteworthy observation is substantial grain refinement in the nugget zone due to the presence of fine fragments of titanium and intermetallic. Cross-tensile tests of the samples welded under the optimised conditions fail in the retreating side of the aluminium material and has strength more than the parent material. The last section in this chapter deals with thermal stability of the microstructures. Chapter 5 deals with the use of Zn as interlayer between Al and Ti. The microstructural evolution and its effect on the mechanical properties have been examined. The investigations clearly show that FSW of Al and Ti with Zn interlayer has superior mechanical properties compared to Al-Ti welds without interlayer. The resulting microstructure has a better thermal stability. The use of Nb as interlayer has been studied in chapter 6. The microstructural investigation of the nugget zone reveals that Nb interlayer does not readily form solid solution with any of the base materials and Nb gets distributed more heterogeneously compared to Ti itself. This has led to a reduction in the strength of the weld, however, the ductility increases The thermal stability of the microstructure is poor compared to FSW of Al to Ti with Zn interlayer. In chapter 7, salient features of the different micro-mechanism operating during FSW of the investigated combinations has been discussed in detail. Finally, the outcome of the thesis has been summarized and scope for future investigation is outlined in chapter 8.