Influence of Friction Stir Processing Parameters on the Fabrication of SiC/316L Surface Composite

Abstract

Compared to the many fusion welding processes that are routinely used for joining stainless steel 316L, the friction stir welding (FSW) process is an emerging solid state joining process in which the material that is being welded does not melt and is being recast. The welding parameters play a major role in deciding the weld quality. In this investigation an attempt has been made to understand the influences of rotational speed and traverse speed of the tool on the microstructure of the friction stir processing zone in stainless steel 316L. Five different tool rotational speeds have been used to fabricate the joints at four different traverse speeds from this investigation which is the optimum for the tool speed and higher or lower amounts of these parameters are not useful for the process.