Microstructure, thermal, and mechanical properties of friction stir welded 6061 aluminum alloy with 10% SiCp reinforcement

After 10 vol.% SiC particles from the welding volume were inserted into the joint line, the mechanical properties of friction stir-welded joints were assessed.During the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process, three different rotational speeds (1300, 1750, and 2000 rpm) were used.Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was used to examine the microstructure across the Stir Zone (SZ), revealing a banded structure between the particle-rich and particle-free portions of the SiCp.When the joint was constructed at 1750 rpm, it displayed better mechanical properties.Because of the presence of SiCp, the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) was enriched by 79.6% at 1750 rpm.Because of the pinning effect and larger nucleation sites caused by the SiC powder, this strength significantly increased.Furthermore, the hardened particle powder cracked the initial grains.When compared to the SiC-free sample, the SiC-rich sample had higher ductility at 1750 rpm.Finally, the fracture surface showed a good agreement with the equivalent ductility marks.