This paper describes a fundamental investigation of friction welding pure copper to titanium. Friction welding was performed using a brake type friction welder. The effect of friction time and upset pressure on the mechanical and metallurgical properties were evaluated. Under constant upset pressure, the tensile strength made little difference with an increase in friction time, whereas at the constant friction time, the tensile strength increased with increasing upset pressure. Thus, the upset pressure plays a major role over the friction time and friction pressure on tensile strength. Though Cu3Ti intermetallic compound is formed at the copper/titanium interface during welding, the tensile strength of welded joint is not affected. It may be due to the thickness of intermetallic compound layer at interface being very thin and scattered. The tensile fracture of the welded joint occurred in copper side near the interface. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.