Fabrication of Al6061-AMC by Adding Copper-Coated SiC Reinforcement by Friction Stir Processing (FSP)

Abstract:

Friction stir processing (FSP) has successfully evolved as a technique in fabricating surface composite. An alternative technique on fabrication of a SiC-reinforced Al6061 aluminum matrix composite (AMC) by stirring copper-coated SiC particles into matrix to form a reinforced zone was developed. Copper film was deposited onto the SiC particles by electroless plating and by photodeposition processes. The copper coating serves as an adhesion and diffusion layer to enhance the cohesion between the particles and the matrix. It is to expect that the strength of the AMC could be improved. The uniformity of particle distribution in the stir zone (SZ) was improved by adjusting the location of particle insert and by a double-pass stir. T5 post weld heat treatment (PWHT) was conducted to retrieve the hardness and the strength of the SZ to the strength level of the matrix. While the submicron-thick Cu-coating was partially separated from SiC particles after FSP, photodeposition Cu-coating less than 100 nm thick exhibited a better adhesion to the SiC particles. The EPMA analysis across the interface shows evidence of interdiffusion between copper and aluminum which implies an enhanced cohesion between the particles and matrix. After PWHT, while the SZ containing photodeposition Cu-coated SiC exhibited the highest hardness among different SZs, the SZ containing electroless Cu-coated SiC exhibited the highest strength. The possible mechanisms for the improvement of the hardness and strength were discussed. In summary, the purpose of fabricating a locally particulate-reinforced Al6061 AMC by stirring Cu-coated SiC particles into Al6061 matrix was achieved. Keywords:Friction stir processing (FSP), particulate reinforced AMC, electroless plating, photodeposition, copper-coated SiC particles

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 783-786)
• Pages: 1721-1728
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.783-786.1721
• Online since: May 2014
• Authors: Jong Ning Aoh*, Chih Wei Huang, Wei Ju Cheng
• Keywords: Copper-Coated SiC Particles, Electroless Plating, Friction Stir Processing (FSP), Particulate Reinforced AMC, Photodeposition

References

[1] C.J. Dawes, E.J.R. Spurgin and D.G. Staines, Friction stir welding aluminum alloy 5083-increased welding speed, Aug. 1999, TWI Report.

[2] W.M. Thomas, E.D. Nicholas, J.C. Needham, M.C. Murch, P. Temple-Smith and C.J. Dawes (TWI), Improvements relating to friction welding, European Patent Specification 0615480 B1.

[3] W. Wang, Q.Y. Shi, P. Liu, H.K. Li and T. Li, A novel way to produce bulk SiCp reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites by friction stir processing, Journal of materials processing technology, Vol. 209, pp.2099-2103, (2009).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2008.05.001

[4] F. Delannay, L. Froyen and A. Deruyttere, Review the wetting of solid by molten metals and it's relation to the preparation of metal matrix composites, Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 22, pp.1-16, (1987).

DOI: 10.1007/bf01160545

[5] A. M. Davidson and D. Regener, A comparison of aluminum-based metal-matrix composites reinforced with coated and uncoated particulate silicon carbide, Composites Science and Technology, Vol. 60, pp.865-869, (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/s0266-3538(99)00151-7

[6] S.F. Moustafa, Z. Abdel-Hamid and A.M. Abd-Elhay, Copper matrix SiC and Al2O3 particulate composites by powder metallurgy technique, Materials Letters, Vol. 53, pp.244-249, (2002).

DOI: 10.1016/s0167-577x(01)00485-2

[7] Y.C. Chen, J.C. Feng and H.J. Liu, Stability of the grain structure in 2219-O aluminum alloy friction stir welds during solution treatment, Materials Characterization, Vol. 58, pp.174-178, (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2006.04.015

[8] B. Roebuck, Fractography of a SiC particulate reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite, Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 6, pp.1138-1140, (1987).

DOI: 10.1007/bf01729162