A study on the microstructure, hardness, and tribological behavior of aluminum-based metal–matrix composite fabricated through recursive friction stir processing

Abstract

In this work, an Al–Zn–Mg–Cu/TiC metal–matrix composite was fabricated through recursive friction stir processing, and its microstructure, hardness, and tribological properties were investigated. Microstructure examination revealed a homogeneous dispersion of TiC particles in the matrix after six recursive passes. The grains were significantly refined and microhardness of the composite improved due to the presence of TiC particles. Friction coefficient and wear rate of the composite went up with an increase in the applied load and dropped significantly at higher sliding velocities. The morphology of the wear specimens experimented under different testing conditions was analyzed and the corresponding wear mechanisms discussed.