Abstract
The objective of this study is to examine the effect of rotational speed on the microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties of joints produced by rotary friction welding of two dissimilar austenitic stainless steels (AISI 304L and AISI 310S). The choice of AISI 304L and AISI 310S stainless steels is based on their complementary properties and industrial relevance. The study focuses on welding dissimilar stainless steels to meet industrial requirements. To achieve these objectives, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, Vickers microhardness testing, and tensile testing were used to characterize the welded joints. The joining of the two dissimilar stainless steels was successfully achieved. A microstructurally uniform welded zone was obtained at the highest rotational speed. At 1400 rpm and 2000 rpm, the welded joints achieved tensile strengths of approximately 507 MPa and 500 MPa, respectively, with weld-center hardness ranging from 220 to 230 HV. EBSD analysis revealed three distinct zones in the welded joint, characterized by different grain sizes and textures. With increasing rotational speed, unlike the central zone, adjacent zones underwent grain growth while retaining the same grain orientation as the central zone.

Key words
Rotary Friction Welding (RFW), austenitic stainless steels, microstructures, texture, mechanical properties

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