The effect of friction stir processing (FSP) on the behaviour of wrought alloy 2024 in pulsed laser
welding was examined. The results showed that FSP changes the microstructure and that
significantly affects the susceptibility of the base metal to liquation cracking. The change in
cracking behaviour is proposed to be related to the refinement of the microstructure and
redistribution of precipitates along the grain boundaries, increasing the flexibility of the grain
network. According to the observations, as a result of FSP, not only liquation cracks but also
solidification cracks were reduced, supporting the view that liquation cracks can act as the source
of some of the solidification cracks.
