Improvement of Structural and Mechanical Properties of Al-1100 Alloy via Friction Stir Processing

In the present study, the relationship between structural and mechanical properties of friction stir processed Al-1100 alloy and process parameters (tool rotation rate: ω and traverse speed: ν) was studied to get an better understanding and optimizing the friction stir processing (FSP) condition of this alloy. Microstructural studies revealed that increasing of ω up to 720 rpm resulted in grain refinement in the stirred zone (SZ), but higher increasing of ω caused grain growth in this zone. These variations of SZ grain size illustrated that the prevailing factor that determined the SZ grain size was plastic deformation at first and thereafter, peak temperature in the SZ. Mechanical properties investigations were in accordance with microstructural findings and illustrated that optimized FSP condition for Al-1100 alloy was 720 rpm and 20 mm/min. Optimized FSP condition resulted in a significant improvement of tensile strength and elongation up to 22 and 8% of those of base metal, respectively.