Tensile Properties and Microstructural Evolution of Friction Stir Processed Extruded AZ31B Alloy

Abstract:

Friction stir processing (FSP) is an emerging surface modification technology for enhancing the sheet metal properties through microstructural refinement at a particular region which might undergo severe plastic deformation. The extruded AZ31B magnesium alloy used in this investigation exhibits very limited ductility accompanied by brittle like behavior at room temperature because of hexagonal packed structure and severe mechanical twinning. Hence, an attempt was made to study the effect of processing parameters such as tool rotational speed and tool traversing speed on tensile properties of friction stir processed AZ31B magnesium alloy. It is found that the friction stir processing of the Magnesium alloy improved the ductility of the material when compared to the base material and also produced an ultrafine equiaxed grain in the processed zone, an ideal condition for the material to exhibit superplasticity.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 110-116)
• Pages: 606-610
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.110-116.606
• Online since: October 2011
• Authors: S. Ramesh Babu, V.S. Senthil Kumar, V. Balasubramanian, G. Madhusudhan Reddy
• Keywords: AZ31B Magnesium Alloy, Equiaxed Grain, Friction Stir Processing (FSP), Microhardness, Superplasticity

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