Investigation of the effective parameters on Al6061 / Al 2 O 3 .WC.SiC composite fabricated by friction stir process

Abstract

Abstract Friction Stir processing is an emerging technique that can be utilized to modify the microstructure and mechanical properties of materials, thereby serving as an effective method for fabricating surface composites. This investigation employed the earlier process to produce a surface composite of 6061AA alloy integrated with Al203, WC, and SiC reinforcement particles, each with an average particle size of 10 ± 4 µm. Initially, linear and rotational speeds were implemented on the specimens. Subsequently, the optimal model was selected based on the microstructure outcomes and the highest microhardness value. As a result, the optimal sample was determined to have a rotational speed of 1000 rpm and a linear velocity of 40 mm/min and underwent four passes. A thorough examination of the microstructure of the produced surface composite was conducted through optical microscopy. Furthermore, the mechanical and microstructural properties between the manufactured composite and the base metal were compared comprehensively. The outcomes of the microhardness test revealed a significant improvement in the composite sample compared to the base metal. Specifically, the base metal exhibited a Vickers hardness value of 44, while the four-pass processed specimens displayed 61. The tests above determined that the samples processed at a rotational speed to linear ratio 25 demonstrated acceptable surface quality.