Overview
ISO 15620:2019 - Welding - Friction welding of metallic materials specifies requirements for the friction welding of metal components, with emphasis on rotational friction welding. Published by ISO/TC 44 (Welding and allied processes), this second edition (2019) replaces the 2000 edition and is written to be used as a contract reference or quality benchmark. The standard covers welding knowledge, quality requirements, welding procedure specification (WPS), welding procedure approval (WPQR) and welding personnel requirements. Provisions can be adopted in full or selectively to suit a particular construction or contract.
Key Topics
- Scope and terminology: definitions of key friction-welding terms (axial force, burn-off length, friction time, forge force, interface, rotational speed, etc.).
- Process knowledge: overview of rotational friction welding types (direct drive and inertia/stored-energy) and related arrangements.
- Materials and material combinations: guidance on weldability of metallic materials and combinations often used with friction welding.
- Friction welding machines: machine features, control and capability requirements relevant to procedure qualification.
- Quality requirements: pre-welding preparation, component holding, post‑weld treatment and ongoing quality assurance.
- WPS and WPQR: requirements for preparing a welding procedure specification, conducting qualification tests, test-weld specimens, acceptance criteria and recording approvals.
- Welding personnel: roles and competencies for machine operators, setters and supervisory/coordinator personnel.
- Informative annexes: practical guidance on parameters relationship, additional friction-based processes, material combinations, quality assurance, testing, and WPQR/WPS templates.
Applications
ISO 15620:2019 is practical for organizations that need to demonstrate consistent capability to produce friction-welded constructions to a specified quality. Typical use cases:
- Manufacturers of shafts, tubes, fasteners and rotors using rotational friction welding.
- Welding engineers and procedure developers writing WPS documents and seeking WPQR compliance.
- Quality managers, procurement and contract authors who require objective contractual welding requirements.
- Certification bodies and regulators assessing procedure approval, test evidence and personnel competence.
- Machine builders and maintenance teams verifying machine features and process control.
Related Standards (if applicable)
- Prepared by ISO/TC 44, the document complements other ISO welding and quality-management publications. Organizations should consider ISO 15620 alongside other welding standards and sector-specific application standards when specifying contract or regulatory requirements.
Keywords: ISO 15620:2019, friction welding, rotational friction welding, WPS, WPQR, welding procedure approval, welding quality, welding personnel.
