EFFECT OF SiC PARTICLES ON STRUCTURE PROPERTY AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF AA6061/SiC SURFACE COMPOSITE FABRICATED VIA FRICTION STIR PROCESSING

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of the tool travel and rotational speed on structural properties and wear resistance of 6061Al/SiC surface composites produced via friction stir processing (FSP) has been investigated. It was found that when the rotational speed was increased from 630 to 2000 rpm or travel speed was reduced from 150 mm/min to 30 mm/min, the wear resistance improved. The enhancement of wear resistance was attributed to the desirable distribution of SiC particles in the base metal. Additionally, the obtained data indicate that a significant change in the reduction of the average grain size in the stir zone (SZ) is happened by increasing the rotational speed and decreasing the travel speed.