Can your two materials be rotary friction welded? Use the compatibility checker below to search material combinations already documented by American Friction Welding. Rotary friction welding can join many similar and dissimilar metals without melting the base materials, making combinations possible that can be difficult or impractical with conventional fusion welding.
The checker is a starting point, not a weld specification. Exact alloy, heat treatment, part geometry, interface area, required properties and production requirements all affect the final process. If your combination is not listed, that does not mean it cannot be friction welded.
Check a Material Pair
Select two materials. Results are based only on combinations already published in AFW’s dissimilar-metals chart.
Published Friction Welding Material Combinations
The material lists below preserve AFW’s published alloy-specific combinations in crawlable HTML. A listed pair indicates documented AFW friction-welding capability or experience with that combination. Materials shown without a paired alloy remain part of AFW’s published material list, but the existing chart does not identify a specific pairing.
Alloy Steel Welding
- 3140 to 2112
- 4032
- 4115
- 4130 to 1034, 4130, 4140, 4142
- 4140 to 1020, 1035, 1045, 4142
- 4340
- 5120L to 1026
- 51200 to 1040, 8620
- 5130 to 1018
- 8620 to 1018
- 9310
- 9650 to 6150
- 98BV40
Carbon Steel Welding
- 1008 to 1037, 1052
- 1010 to 8620
- 1013 to 1018, 1117
- 1018 to 1052, 1141, 5130, EX-TEN50
- 1020 to 1037, 1095, 1140
- 1040 to 1045
- 1041
- 1045 to 1141, 4150, 8620, EX-TEN50
- 1049
- 1085 to 1017
- 1095 to 1020
- 1117
- 1141
- T-11
- T-22
Stainless Steel Welding
- 302 SS to 1020, 1045, 410 SS, 440 SS, 17-4 PH
- 303 SS to 1018, 1045, 1117
- 304 SS to 1020, 1045, Hastelloy B, Hastelloy C, Copper
- 309 SS to 1010
- 316 SS to 1018, 1020, 1045, 1117
- 321 SS to 8630
- 347 SS to 17-4 PH
- 410 SS to 1045
- 416 SS to 1018, 1045, 440 SS
- 17-4 PH to 1117, 310 SS, 302 SS
- CARP 20 to 1018, 1020, 1045
- 2205 Duplex to 1018
High-Speed Steel Welding
- H-13 to 1018
- M-1 to 1040, 1045, 1050, 1070, 8650
- M-2 to 1045
- M-4 to Matrix Base Alloy
- M-7 to 1045
- M-10 to 1045
- M-50
- S-1 to 1080
Aluminum Welding
- Aluminum to Carbon Steel
- 1100
- 2024
- 6061 to 356 Cast
- 6061 T-4 to 1100, 6063 T-4
- 6063 to 356 Cast
- M-821 to 8740
Other Welding Materials
- Carbide 3411 to 1020
- Sintered Carbide to 1018
- INCO 600 to INCO 600
- INCO 713C to 1036, 1040, 4140, 5140, 8630
- INCO 713LC to 5140, d979
- INCO 718 to AMS6304, INCOLOY 901, WASPALOY
- INCO 751 to 1045, 4140
- Inconel X to 8645
- Molybdenum
- Monel 400 to 1020, 1026
- Nickel 200
- T-1 to 4140
- Tantalum to 1018, 302 SS
- Titanium to 1018, 1100 Aluminum
- Tungsten
- Tungsten Carbide to 1020
Other Non-Ferrous Welding
- Aluminum to 1045, Bronze
- Brass
- Bronze to Steel
- Copper (Cu) to Copper, Silver, 1020 steel
- Copper to Stainless Steel
Evaluating a Material Combination?
For broader guidance on similar metals, full-strength dissimilar combinations, challenging material pairs and factors that can limit weld strength, review the Material Considerations section of AFW’s Rotary Friction Welding Design Guide.
Why Rotary Friction Welding Works for Dissimilar Metals
One of the most significant benefits of friction welding is joining dissimilar metals, including combinations that can be difficult with conventional welding. Each metal has its own mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, tensile strength, expansion rate and melting point. Rotary friction welding does not require filler metal, allowing the process to focus on the characteristics of the two joining materials.
The solid-state process heats materials to a plasticized state without melting the base metals. Avoiding bulk melting can reduce problems associated with solidification, while the narrow heat-affected zone limits thermal exposure around the weld. Rotary friction welding also creates a bond across the full interface between the two parts rather than only around an outer perimeter.
During the process, surface contaminants and oxides can be displaced from the interface with the upset material. Part shortening is accounted for in the weld design, and resulting flash may remain or be removed after welding depending on the application. Some applications may also require post-weld heat treatment, cooling or testing.
Have a Specific Material Pair or Part?
Send AFW the material grades, part geometry, expected quantities and available drawings. Our team can review whether rotary friction welding fits the application.
