Surface Composite Fabrication by Friction Stir Processing: A Review

Abstract

Newer materials with unique properties are needed to cater the ever-increasing industrial demands to meet new challenges concerning technological advancements. Quest for special materials and processes is prevalent as conventional materials fail to level up. Composite materials promisingly bridge this gap by providing controllable properties at reasonable costs. Their scope of application can further be drastically enhanced by subjecting them to special surface processing treatments. Friction stir processing (FSP) is one such promising process that can meet the stringent applicational demands. Composites are increasingly being used in industries for properties like high strength to weight ratio, increased hardness, stiffness, ductility, corrosion resistance, etc. FSP, a solid-state material modification technique, has proved its caliber in surface composite fabrication. Some attention-seeking advantages of FSP include peerless efficiency, less tool wear rate, and ability to modify material locally are some of many attention-seeking advantages. Despite being cost-effective FSP also manages to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional manufacturing process. FSP reinforces a special material into the parent material surface to attain specific properties. Properties so developed depend on parameters like: tool geometry, traverse speed, rotation speed, number of passes etc. The present paper aims to review comprehensive information on fabrication of surface composites by FSP, process parameters, properties, industrial applications, and future scope. Key Words: Friction stir processing surface processing treatments surface composites material modification process parameters.