Fabrication of surface composites on different aluminium alloys via friction stir process - A review report

Friction stir processing (FSP) is used to enhancing the hardness, tensile strength, corrosion and wear resistance of the substrate by changing the microstructure and through reinforcing the surface with hard-particles. In this paper, the available literatures have been carefully scrutinised and systematically categorised into FSP process and its resulting effects on the different grades of aluminium-based metal matrix composites (AMMCs). The effect of various reinforcements on AMMCs is also discussed. The objective of this paper is to review the various FSPed AMMCs fabricate at different operating conditions under various FSP parameters and summarise their effects on the microstructure and final properties of surface composites. Improvement in mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and wear resistance were observed. Fine grains of 100 nm to 400 nm in size were obtained in AA7075-T6 matrix after multi-pass FSP with rapid cooling. In AA7075/9 wt% TiB2 SCs, the grain size reduces from 335 mu m (cast AA7075) to 6.3 mu m, UTS increased to similar to 237%, hardness increased to similar to 246% and wear rate reduced to similar to 47% as compared to cast AA7075. This review paper will be helpful to new researchers working in the field of FSP, as it comprises significant knowledge related to AMMCs through FSP.