Aluminium (Al) and its alloys play a vital role in decarbonising transport, particularly in electric vehicles, owing to their strength, light weight, corrosion resistance, recyclability, and formability. However, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al and its alloys may be compromised during the process of joining larger parts. The EU-funded REFORMS project will focus on optimising the friction stir welding (FSW) process for Al alloys reinforced with quasicrystalline phases to obtain high-quality joints. By determining FSW process parameters and employing advanced microbeam analysis techniques, REMORMS aims to create high-quality joints with optimal mechanical properties.
REFORMS 