Application and exploration of friction stir welding/processing in plastics industry

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a green, pollution-free, low-energy technology with high manoeuvrability. Thermoplastic plastics have extensive applications in the present industry because they offer excellent physical and corrosion properties, high degree freedom of processing and design. In this paper, the current state of FSW/P in plastics industry, including tool improvement, welding methods, process parameters optimisation, metal and polymer joining as well as composites fabrication, has been addressed. Although it presents a major challenge, FSW/P has a great potential to produce defect-free joint and fabricate composites in polymer materials.