Effect of process parameter on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of AZ91C/SiO2 composite fabricated by FSP

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 655; pp. 379 - 387
• Main Authors: Dadashpour, M., Mostafapour, A., Yeşildal, R., Rouhi, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 08-02-2016
• Subjects: AZ91C/SiO2 composite; Base metal; Fracture behavior; Fracture mechanics; Fracturing; Friction stir processing; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Particulate composites; Silicon dioxide; Mechanical properties; AZ91C/SiO2 composite; Friction stir processing; Fracture behavior
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2015.12.103

Friction stir processing is a variant of friction stir welding, which is used to locally reform the microstructure of the base metal. In the present study, the influences of friction stir processing parameters and SiO2 nano powder on the mechanical properties and the fracture mechanism of the samples were investigated. The obtained results showed that in the optimum condition, the nanocomposites can be fabricated with a good distribution of the reinforcing particles and without any common imperfection. In this optimum condition, the mechanical properties of the fabricated samples were much better than the base metal and with very small size of the grains. Furthermore, by this technique, it was viable to increase the hardness and the strength of the nanocomposites. With the study of the effects of the number of passes and regarding the microstructural investigations, it was revealed that a rise in the number of passes can improve the distribution state of the reinforcing particles in the stir zone, which in turn can enhance the mechanical strength of the samples. However, the results of the fracture mechanism investigations suggested that the processing of the samples can deteriorate the fracture behavior of them.