ScholarLens Back to search
2010•Materials science forumOpen access

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Friction Stir Processed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy

Margarita Vargas, Sri Lathabai

Open full text 6 citations

Abstract

Friction stir processing (FSP) was performed on AA 7075-T6, a heat treatable high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. The two main FSP parameters, the tool rotational and travel speed, were varied systematically in order to understand their influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the processed zone. At a given rotational speed, increasing the travel speed increased the microhardness of the nugget (stir) zone; for a given travel speed there appeared to be an optimum rotational speed which resulted in the highest microhardness. The range of FSP parameters used did not significantly influence the nugget zone grain size. It is suggested that the observed mechanical properties are a result of the complex interactions between the FSP thermo-mechanical effects and the processes of dissolution, coarsening and re-precipitation of the strengthening precipitates in this alloy.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Friction stir processing (FSP) was performed on AA 7075-T6, a heat treatable high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. The two main FSP parameters, the tool rotational and travel speed, were varied systematically in order to understand their influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the processed zone. At a given rotational speed, increasing the travel speed increased the microhardness of the nugget (stir) zone; for a given travel speed there appeared to be an optimum rotational speed which resulted in the highest microhardness. The range of FSP parameters used did not significantly influence the nugget zone grain size. It is suggested that the observed mechanical properties are a result of the complex interactions between the FSP thermo-mechanical effects and the processes of dissolution, coarsening and re-precipitation of the strengthening precipitates in this alloy.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 6 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Friction stir processing (FSP) was performed on AA 7075-T6, a heat treatable high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. The two main FSP parameters, the tool rotational and travel speed, were varied systematically in order to understand their influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the processed zone. At a given rotational speed, increasing the travel speed increased the microhardness of the nugget (stir) zone; for a given travel speed there appeared to be an optimum rotational speed which resulted in the highest microhardness. The range of FSP parameters used did not significantly influence the nugget zone grain size. It is suggested that the observed mechanical properties are a result of the complex interactions between the FSP thermo-mechanical effects and the processes of dissolution, coarsening and re-precipitation of the strengthening precipitates in this alloy.

Key concepts: Friction stir processing, Materials science, Microstructure, Alloy, Indentation hardness, Rotational speed, Metallurgy, Grain size

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Friction Stir Processed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy — Research Paper | ScholarLens