Patent ID: 7857188

Claim:
A friction stir welding tool head, comprising: a shoulder; and a pin engaged to the shoulder, wherein at least one part of each of the shoulder and the pin comprises: a first material comprising: at least one silicide from a group consisting of Ti 5 Si 3 , Zr 6 Si 5 , Zr 3 Si 2 , Zr 4 Si 3 , ZrSi, HfSi 2 , NbSi 2 , TaSi 2 , Mo 3 Si 2 , MoSi 2 , W 3 Si 2 , and WSi 2 ; and at least one of or a combination of at least one carbide from a group consisting of TaC, HfC, NbC, ZrC, TiC, WC, VC, Al 4 C 3 , ThC 2 , Mo 2 C, SiC, B 4 C and Cr 2 C 3 , at least one nitride, and at least one boride from a group consisting of VB 2 , Cr 3 B 2 , HfB 2 , ZrB 2 , TaB 2 , TiB 2 , NbB 2 , and WB; and a second material to bind the first material, the second material comprising at least rhenium.