The　present　work　was　undertaken　to　provide　an　in-depth　insight　into　a　relatively　new　joining　technique,　the　so-called　laser　pressure　welding.　To　this　end,　the　fundamental　aspects　of　microstructural　evolution　occurring　during　welding　of　pure　aluminum　were　studied.　The　microstructural　changes　were　found　to　be　relatively　complex　involving　static　recrystallization,　melting,　solidification　and　plastic　deformation.　The　solidified　grains　were　deduced　to　nucleate　epitaxially　on　the　recrystallized　grains　thus　inheriting　their　crystallographic　orientations.　From　thorough　microstructural　analysis,　it　was　deduced　that　the　solidification　process　initiated　before　rolling　and　thus　the　freshly　crystallized　material　experienced　a　plastic　strain.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.