How effective is friction stir welding?

The effectiveness of friction stir welding is particularly well known for joining materials identified as difficult to weld, such as aluminium. Friction stir welding technology can be used to weld all aluminum alloys. FSW welding of the 5000 series retains 100% of the mechanical properties. For the 2,000, 6,000 and 7,000 series, a reduction in properties of 10 to 20% has been observed. Its efficiency is recognized and allows to dimension the structures to be welded according to the alloys
The choice of an appropriate FSW tool also contributes to the efficiency of aluminum welds.