ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (www.esabna.com) has received an exclusive worldwide license to manufacture and distribute friction stir welding machines with technology developed by MegaStir for ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, metal matrix composites and superalloys.

The agreement gives ESAB worldwide distribution rights, except in certain countries, to distribute MegaStir branded tools. MegaStir is a strategic alliance between SII MegaDiamond Inc., a business unit of Smith International, Inc., and Advanced Metal Products, Inc.

Friction stir welding is a solid state joining process that provides advantages over typical arc welding processes, including lower total heat input and the elimination of solidification defects associated with arc welding.

Because melting does not occur in friction stir welding and joining takes place below the melting temperature of the material, a wrought equiaxed grain structure is produced, creating a high quality weld. On-line resources define “equiaxed” as a crystalline structure that is made up of crystals that have axes that are approximately the same lengths in any direction. The on-line sources said that equiaxed crystalline structures tend to be stronger than other structures.

Friction stir welding previously was limited to low melting temperature materials such as aluminum, brass and copper.

ESAB said in a prepared statement that MegaStir’s technology expands friction stir welding to higher melting temperature such as ferritic steels, stainless and duplex stainless steels, and nickel base alloys by use of tools made from polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), polycrystalline diamond (PCD), and abrasive materials such as metal matrix composites (MMC).

“ESAB is very excited to be able to help expand the commercialization of MegaStir’s technology worldwide,” Jeff Hoffart, senior vice president and general manager for equipment, cutting and steel industry products for ESAB, said.

Hoffart said he believes that the technology will change the face of high production welding, and will enable companies to create strong, high quality, welds with high productivity, and with little or no post process clean up.

“Friction stir welding also does not require filler metals or shield gases and will help manufacturers meet worldwide environmental regulatory standards,” Hoffart added.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products manufactures welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals.

For more information, visit the company’s Internet site, or call 1-800-ESAB-123.

ESAB is based in Florence, S.C. Smith International is located in North Provo, Utah, and Advance Metal Products is located in West Bountiful, Utah.