Friction Stir Processing: A Technique for Microstructural Refinement in Metallic Materials

Friction stir processing (FSP) combines frictional heating and severe plastic deformation to produce microstructural modification, either locally targeted at the near-surface regions or through the bulk, of metallic components fabricated by conventional processing routes. In this paper, we highlight the capabilities of this process by applying it to a high-pressure die cast Al-Si-Mg-(Cu) alloy and examining the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties.