A new insight into LPSO phase transformation and mechanical properties uniformity of large-scale Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy prepared by multi-pass friction stir processing

A large-scale fine-grained Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy plate with high strength and ductility was successfully prepared by multi-pass friction stir processing(MFSP)technology in this work.The structure of grains and long period stacking ordered(LPSO)phase were characterized,and the mechanical properties uniformity was investigated.Moreover,a quantitative relationship between the microstructure and tensile yield strength was established.The results showed that the grains in the processed zone(PZ)and interfacial zone(IZ)were refined from 50μm to 3μm and 4μm,respectively,and numerous original LPSO phases were broken.In IZ,some block-shaped 18R LPSO phases were transformed into needle-like 14H LPSO phases due to stacking faults and the short-range diffusion of solute atoms.The severe shear deformation in the form of kinetic energy caused profuse stacking fault to be generated and move rapidly,greatly increasing the transformation rate of LPSO phase.After MFSP,the ultimate tensile strength,yield strength and elongation to failure of the large-scale plate were 367 MPa,305 MPa and 18.0% respectively.Grain refinement and LPSO phase strengthening were the major strengthening mechanisms for the MFSP sample.In particularly,the strength of IZ was comparable to that of PZ because the strength contribution of the 14H LPSO phase offsets the lack of grain refinement strengthening in IZ.This result opposes the widely accepted notion that IZ is a weak region in MFSP-prepared large-scale fine-grained plate.

Effects of friction stir processing and nano-hydroxyapatite on the microstructure,hardness,degradation rate and in-vitro bioactivity of WE43 alloy for biomedical applications

Nowadays,magnesium alloys are emerging in biomedical implants for their similar properties to natural bones.However,the rapid degradation of magnesium alloys in biological media hinders successful implantation.Refinement of microstructure,as well as reinforcement particles can significantly improve the degradation rate.In this work,multi-pass friction stir processing(FSP)was proposed to synthesize WE43/nano-hydroxyapatite(n HA)surface composite,the microstructure,reinforced particle distribution,micro-hardness,corrosion behavior and in-vitro bioactivity were studied.The subsequent FSP passes of WE43 alloy and WE43/n HA composite refined the grain size which was reduced by 94.29%and 95.92%(2.63 and 1.88μm,respectively)compared to base metal after three passes.This resulted in increasing the microhardness by 120%(90.86 HV0.1)and 135%(105.59 HV0.1)for the WE43 and WE43-n HA,respectively.It is found that increasing FSP passes improved the uniform distribution of n HA particles within the composite matrix which led to improved corrosion resistance and less degradation rate.The corrosion rate of the FSPed WE43/n HA composite after three passes was reduced by 38.2%(4.13 mm/year)and the degradation rate was reduced by 69.7%(2.87 mm/y).This is attributed to secondary phase(Mg24Y5and Mg41Nd5)particle fragmentation and redistribution,as well as a homogeneous distribution of n HA.Additionally,the growing Ca-P and Mg(OH)2layer formed on the surface represented a protective layer that reduced the degradation rate.The wettability test revealed a relatively hydrophilic surface with water contact angle of 49.1±2.2°compared to 71.2±2.1°for base metal.Also,biomineralization test showed that apatite layer grew after immersion 7d in simulated body fluid with atomic ratio of Ca/P 1.60 approaching the stoichiometric ratio(1.67)indicating superior bioactivity of FSPed WE43/n HA composite after three passes.These results raise that the grain refinement by FSP and introduction of n HA particles significantly improved the degradation rate and in-vitro bioactivity of WE43 alloy for biomedical applications.

Research progress in friction stir processing of magnesium alloys and their metal matrix surface composites: Evolution in the 21^(st )century

Rising concerns about climate change drive the demand for lightweight components.Magnesium(Mg)alloys are highly valued for their low weight,making them increasingly important in various industries.Researchers focusing on enhancing the characteristics of Mg alloys and developing their Metal Matrix Composites(MMCs)have gained significant attention worldwide over the past decade,driven by the global shift towards lightweight materials.Friction Stir Processing(FSP)has emerged as a promising technique to enhance the properties of Mg alloys and produce Mg-MMCs.Initially,FSP adapted to refine grain size from the micro to the nano level and accelerated the development of MMCs due to its solid-state nature and the synergistic effects of microstructure refinement and reinforcement,improving strength,hardness,ductility,wear resistance,corrosion resistance,and fatigue strength.However,producing defect-free and sound FSPed Mg and Mg-MMCs requires addressing several variables and their interdependencies,which opens up a broad range of practical applications.Despite existing reviews on individual FSP of Mg,its alloys,and MMCs,an attempt has been made to analyze the latest research on these three aspects collectively to enhance the understanding,application,and effectiveness of FSP for Mg and its derivatives.This review article discusses the literature,classifies the importance of Mg alloys,provides a historical background,and explores developments and potential applications of FSPed Mg alloys.It focuses on novel fabrication methods,reinforcement strategies,machine and tool design parameters,material characterization,and integration with other methods for enhanced properties.The influence of process parameters and the emergence of defects are examined,along with specific applications in mono and hybrid composites and their microstructure evolution.The study identifies promising reinforcement materials and highlights research gaps in FSP for Mg alloys and MMCs production.It concludes with significant recommendations for further exploration,reflecting ongoing advancements in this field.

Tailoring the microstructure of Mg-Al-Sn-RE alloy via friction stir processing and the impact on its electrochemical discharge behaviour as the anode for Mg-air battery

Constructing the magnesium alloy with fine grains,low density of dislocations,and weak crystal orientation is of crucial importance to enhance its comprehensive performance as the anode for Mg-air battery.However,this unique microstructure can hardly be achieved with conventional plastic deformation such as rolling or extrusion.Herein,we tailor the microstructure of Mg-Al-Sn-RE alloy by using the friction stir processing,which obviously refines the grains without increasing dislocation density or strengthening crystal orientation.The Mg-air battery with the processed Mg-Al-Sn-RE alloy as the anode exhibits higher discharge voltages and capacities than that employing the untreated anode.Furthermore,the impact of friction stir processing on the electrochemical discharge behaviour of Mg-Al-Sn-RE anode and the corresponding mechanism are also analysed according to microstructure characterization and electrochemical response.

Surface metal-matrix composites based on AZ91 magnesium alloy via friction stir processing:A review

This monograph presents an overview of friction stir processing(FSP)of surface metal-matrix composites(MMCs)using the AZ91 magnesium alloy.The reported results in relation to various reinforcing particles,including silicon carbide(SiC),alumina(Al_(2)O_(3)),quartz(SiO_(2)),boron carbide(B_(4)C),titanium carbide(TiC),carbon fiber,hydroxyapatite(HA),in-situ formed phases,and hybrid reinforcements are summarized.AZ91 composite fabricating methods based on FSP are explained,including groove filling(grooving),drilled hole filling,sandwich method,stir casting followed by FSP,and formation of in-situ particles.The effects of introducing second-phase particles and FSP process parameters(e.g.,tool rotation rate,traverse speed,and the number of passes)on the microstructural modification,grain refinement,homogeneity in the distribution of particles,inhibition of grain growth,mechanical properties,strength–ductility trade-off,wear/tribological behavior,and corrosion resistance are discussed.Finally,useful suggestions for future work are proposed,including focusing on the superplasticity and superplastic forming,metal additive manufacturing processes based on friction stir engineering(such as additive friction stir deposition),direct FSP,stationary shoulder FSP,correlation of the dynamic recrystallization(DRX)grain size with the Zener–Hollomon parameter similar to hot deformation studies,process parameters(such as the particle volume fraction and external cooling),and common reinforcing phases such as zirconia(ZrO_(2))and carbon nanotubes(CNTs).

Simultaneous enhancement of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of as-cast Mg-5Zn via microstructural modification by friction stir processing

Magnesium alloys are ideal lightweight materials;however,their applications are extremely limited due to their low strength,poor ductility,and weak corrosion resistance.In the present study,a friction stir processing(FSP)treatment was employed to optimize the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of an as-cast Mg-5Zn alloy.The average grain size of the Mg-5Zn alloy was refined from 133.8μm to1.3μm as a result of FSP.Along different directions,FSP exhibited the enhancement effects on different mechanical properties.Furthermore,according to the potentiodynamic polarization results,the corrosion current density at the free-corrosion potential of the FSPed sample,was 4.1×10^(-6)A/cm^(2)in 3.5 wt.%Na Cl aqueous solution,which was significantly lower than that of the as-cast sample.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the polarization impedance,Rp,of the FSPed sample was 1534Ω/cm^(2)in 3.5 wt.%NaCl aqueous solution,which was 71.4%greater than that of the as-cast sample.The corrosion morphology of the FSPed sample in 3.5 wt.%NaCl aqueous solution exhibited largely uniform corrosion,rather than severe localized corrosion characteristics,which further reduced the corrosion depth on the basis of reducing the corrosion current density.The results presented herein indicate that FSP is a viable technique for simultaneously improving the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the as-cast Mg-5Zn alloy.

Superplasticity of AZ31 magnesium alloy prepared by friction stir processing

Microstructure and tensile behaviors of AZ31 magnesium alloy prepared by friction stir processing（FSP） were investigated.The results show that microstructure of the AZ31 hot-rolled plate with an average grain size of 92.0 μm is refined to 11.4 μm after FSP.The FSP AZ31 alloy exhibits excellent plasticity at elevated temperature,with an elongation to failure of 1050% at 723 K and a strain rate of 5×10-4 s-1.The elongation of the FSP material is 268% at 723 K and 1×10-2 s-1,indicating that high strain rate superplasticity could be achieved.On the other hand,the hot-rolled base material,which has a coarse grain structure,possesses no superplasticity under the experimental conditions.

Preparation of ultra-fine grain Ni-Al-WC coating with interlocking bonding on austenitic stainless steel by laser clad and friction stir processing

The ultra-fine structured Ni?Al?WC layer with interlocking bonding was fabricated on austenitic stainless steel by combination of laser clad and friction stir processing (FSP). Laser was initially applied to Ni?Al elemental powder preplaced on the austenitic stainless steel substrate to produce a coating for further processing. The as-received coating was subjected to FSP treatment, processed by a rotary tool rod made of WC?Co alloy, to obtain sample for inspection. Microstructure, phase constitutions, hardness and wear property were investigated by methods of scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) microanalysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), hardness test alongside with dry sliding wear test. The results show that the severe deformation effect exerted on the specimen resulted in an ultra-fine grain layer of about 100μmin thickness and grain size of 1?2μm. Synergy between introduction of WC particles to the deformation layer and deformation strengthening contributes greatly to the increase in hardness and friction resistance. An interlocking bonding between the coating and matrix which significantly improves bonding strength was formed due to the severe deformation effect.

Evolution of microstructure and hardness of aluminum after friction stir processing

The effects of friction stir processing （FSP） on the microstructure, microtexture and hardness of rolled pure aluminum were investigated. The microstructure and microtexture were characterized using electron backscattered diffraction （EBSD） technique on the transversal section. The stir zone （SZ） contains fine, equiaxed and fully recrystallized grains. The texture component of the base material mainly consists of R, S and brass R textures. Miner copper texture component is also determined. In the center of the stir zone, the dominant texture is （111） parallel to about 70° from ND pointing toward RD. The textures of this location rotating clockwise about 30° and anticlockwise about 60° around the ND result in the textures of the areas, which are 3 mm apart from this location on the retreating side and advancing side, respectively.

A comparative study on microstructural evolution and surface properties of graphene/CNT reinforced Al6061-SiC hybrid surface composite fabricated via friction stir processing

A comparative study on the surface properties of Al-SiC-multi walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and Al-SiC-graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) hybrid composites fabricated via friction stir processing (FSP) was documented. Microstructural characterization reveals a more homogeneous dispersion of GNPs in the Al matrix as compared to CNTs. Dislocation blockade by SiC and GNP particles along with the defect-free interface between the matrix and reinforcements is also observed. Nanoindentation study reveals a remarkable ~207% and ~27% increment in surface nano-hardness of Al-SiC-GNP and Al-SiC-CNT hybrid composite compared to as-received Al6061 alloy, respectively. On the other hand, the microhardness values of Al-SiC-GNP and Al-SiC-CNT are increased by ~36% and ~17% relative to as-received Al6061 alloy, respectively. Tribological assessment reveals ~56% decrease in the specific wear rate of Al-SiC-GNP hybrid composite, whereas it is increased by ~122% in Al-SiC-CNT composite. The higher strength of Al-SiC-GNP composite is attributed to the mechanical exfoliation of GNPs to few layered graphene (FLG) in the presence of SiC. Also, various mechanisms such as thermal mismatch, grain refinement, and Orowan looping contribute significantly towards the strengthening of composites. Moreover, the formation of tribolayer by the squeezed-out GNP on the surface is responsible for the improved tribological performance of the composites. Raman spectroscopy and various other characterization methods corroborate the results.

Synthesize of AZ31/TiC magnesium matrix composites using friction stir processing

Friction stir processing(FSP)is a novel solid state technique to synthesize metal matrix composites.In the present work,an attempt has been made to synthesize AZ31/TiC magnesium matrix composites using FSP and to analyze the microstructure using scanning electron microscopy.A groove was prepared on 6 mm thick AZ31 magnesium alloy plates and compacted with TiC particles.The width of the groove was varied to result in four different volume fraction of TiC particles(0,6,12 and 18 vol.%).A single pass FSP was carried out using a tool rotational speed of 1200 rpm,traverse speed of 40 mm/min and an axial force of 10 kN.Scanning electron microscopy was employed to study the microstructure of the synthesized composites.The results indicated that TiC particles were distributed uniformly in the magnesium matrix without the formation of clusters.There was no interfacial reaction between the magnesium matrix and the TiC particle.TiC particles were properly bonded to the magnesium matrix.

Assessment of Ti-6Al-4V particles as a reinforcement for AZ31 magnesium alloy-based composites to boost ductility incorporated through friction stir processing

Poor ductility is the primary concern of magnesium matrix composites(MMCs)inflicted by non-deformable ceramic particle reinforcements.Metal particles which melt at elevated temperature can be used as reinforcement to improve the deformation characteristics.Ti-6Al-4V particles reinforced AZ31 MMCs were produced through friction stir processing(FSP)which was carried out in a traditional vertical milling machine.The microstructural features as well as the response to external tensile load were explored.A homogenous distribution of Ti-6Al-4V was achieved at every part of the stir zone.There was no chemical decomposition of Ti-6Al-4V.Further,Ti-6Al-4V did not react with Al and Zn present in AZ31 alloy to form new compounds.A continuous strong interface was obtained around Ti-6Al-4V particle with the matrix.Ti-6Al-4V particles underwent breakage during processing due to severe plastic strain.There was a remarkable refinement of grains in the composite caused by dynamic recrystallization in addition to the pinning of smaller size broken particles.Dense dislocations were observed in the matrix because of plastic deformation and the associated strain misfit.Ti-6Al-4V particles improved the tensile behavior and assisted to obtain appreciable deformation before fracture.Brittle mode of failure was avoided.

Magnesium based surface metal matrix composites by friction stir processing

Surface metal matrix composites(MMCs)are a group of modern engineered materials where the surface of the material is modified by dispersing secondary phase in the form of particles or fibers and the core of the material experience no change in chemical composition and structure.The potential applications of the surface MMCs can be found in automotive,aerospace,biomedical and power industries.Recently,friction stir processing(FSP)technique has been gaining wide popularity in producing surface composites in solid state itself.Magnesium and its alloys being difficult to process metals also have been successfully processed by FSP to fabricate surface MMCs.The aim of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive summary of state-of-the-art in fabricating magnesium based composites by FSP.Influence of the secondary phase particles and grain refinement resulted from FSP on the properties of these composites is also discussed.

Improvement in grain refinement efficiency of Mg-Zr master alloy for magnesium alloy by friction stir processing

Previous studies have proved that the zirconium(Zr)alloying and grain refining performance of a Mg-Zr master alloy on Mg alloy is closely related to the distribution of Zr particle size,and a Mg-Zr master alloy with more Zr particles in size range of 1-5μm exhibits a better refining efficiency.In this paper,friction stir processing(FSP)was used to modify the Zr particles size distribution of a commercially available Mg-30 wt.%Zr master alloy,and the subsequent grain refinement ability was studied by trials on a typical Mg-3Nd-0.2Zn-0.6Zr(wt.%,NZ30K)alloy.It is found that plenty of large Zr particles in the as-received Mg-30%Zr master alloy are broken by FSP.Grain refinement tests reveal that the refining efficiency of Mg-30%Zr alloy is significantly improved by FSP,which is attributed to the better distribution of Zr particles.The refinement effect by adding 0.6%FSP-ed Mg-30%Zr is approximately equivalent to that by adding 1.0%as-received Mg-30%Zr.Due to the easy and convenient operation of FSP,this study provides a new method to develop a more efficient Mg-Zr refiner.

Development and characterization studies on magnesium alloy(RZ 5)surface metal matrix composites through friction stir processing

Surface metal matrix composite is produced on the as cast Magnesium Rare Earth alloy-RZ 5 by single pass friction stir processing using various micro/nano sized reinforcement particles namely Boron Carbide(B_(4)C),Multi Walled Carbon Nano Tubes(MWCNTs),and a mixture of ZrO_(2)+Al_(2)O_(3)particles.Fine grained metal matrix composites having the grain size ranging 0.8μm to 1.87μm are achieved.Grain boundary pinning by the reinforcement particles has resulted in the transformation of coarse grained(∼81μm)base material into fine grained(<1μm)metal matrix composite.Finer grain structure and the presence of reinforcements at the stir zone have resulted in increased and improved mechanical properties of the developed composites.Microhardness ranging between 125 HV and 403 HV is achieved.Uni-axial Tensile Testing of the developed composites exhibited improvement in tensile strength.Metal matrix composites developed using various reinforcements exhibited an increase in strength ranges between 250 MPa and 320 MPa.

Influence of friction stir processing conditions on corrosion behavior of AZ31B magnesium alloy

The present study aims to investigate the effect of friction stir processing(FSP)conditions on the corrosion characteristic of AZ31B magnesium alloy.Specimens made of AZ31B alloy were friction stir processed under various processing conditions,and their microstructure and corrosion behavior were studied.The corrosion behavior was studied by potentiodynamic polarization,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),and immersion test in 3.5%sodium chloride(NaCl)solution.The results showed a substantial improvement in the corrosion resistance of the friction stir processed AZ31B alloy.The improvement is likely a result of more stable corrosion products and microstructure refinement formed after friction sir processing.

Influence of multipass high rotating speed friction stir processing on microstructure evolution,corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of stirred zone on AZ31 alloy

The influence of multipass high rotating speed friction stir processing(FSP)on the microstructure evolution,corrosion behavior,and tensile properties of the stirred zone(SZ)was investigated by EBSD,TEM,SEM,electrochemical workstation and electronic universal testing machine.The mean grain size of the SZ is significantly refined,and it increases with the increase of the processing pass.In addition to an obvious increase in the number,the distribution ofβ-Al12Mg17 precipitates also becomes more uniform and dispersed with increasing the processing pass.Compared with the as-received AZ31 alloy,the tensile properties of the SZ are hardly improved,but the corrosion resistances are significantly enhanced.The corrosion potential of the SZ prepared by 4-pass FSP is increased from−1.56 V for the unprocessed AZ31 alloy to−1.19 V,while the corrosion current is decreased from 1.55×10^−4 to 5.47×10^−5 A.

Influence of addition of Gr_p/Al_2O_(3p )with SiC_p on wear properties of aluminum alloy 6061-T6 hybrid composites via friction stir processing

Aluminum alloy base surface hybrid composites were fabricated by incorporating with mixture of （SiC＋Gr） and （SiC＋Al2O3） particles of 20 μm in average size on an aluminum alloy 6061-T6 plate using friction stir processing （FSP）. Microstructures of both the surface hybrid composites revealed that SiC, Gr and Al2O3 are uniformly dispersed in the nugget zone （NZ）. It was observed that the addition of Gr particles rather than Al2O3 particles with SiC particles, decreases the microhardness but immensely increases the dry sliding wear resistance of aluminum alloy 6061-T6 surface hybrid composite. The observed microhardness and wear properties are correlated with microstructures and worn micrographs.

Interface repairing for AA5083/T2 copper explosive composite plate by friction stir processing

Multi-pass friction stir processing(M-FSP)was performed to repair the interface defects of AA5083/T2 copper explosive composite plates.The interface morphology and its bonding mechanism were explored.The results show that higher rotation speed and lower transverse speed produce more heat generated during FSP.The defect-free and good mechanical properties of the AA5083/T2 copper composite plate can be obtained under the condition of the rotation speed of 1200 r/min,the transverse speed of 30 mm/min and the overlap of 2/24.Moreover,M-FSP changes the interface bonding mechanism from metallurgical bonding to vortex connection,improving the bonding strength of composite plate,which can guarantee the repairing quality of composite plates.

Influence of tool rotational speed on microstructure and sliding wear behavior of Cu/B_4C surface composite synthesized by friction stir processing

An attempt was made to synthesize Cu/B4C surface composite using friction stir processing（FSP） and to analyze the influence of tool rotational speed on microstructure and sliding wear behavior of the composite. The tool rotational speed was varied from 800 to 1200 r/min in step of 200 r/min. The traverse speed, axial force, groove width and tool pin profile were kept constant. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the microstructure of the fabricated surface composites. The sliding wear behavior was evaluated using a pin-on-disc apparatus. The results indicate that the tool rotational speed significantly influences the area of the surface composite and the distribution of B4C particles. Higher rotational speed exhibits homogenous distribution of B4C particles, while lower rotational speed causes poor distribution of B4C particles in the surface composite. The effects of tool rotational speed on the grain size, microhardness, wear rate, worn surface and wear debris were reported.