Modification of Aluminium Alloy Surface Composite Reinforced with ZrO2 Particles Fabricated Through Friction Stir Processing

The improvement in mechanical behaviour of the modified surface composite was accredited to development of the microstructural structures. This was reached by fine spreading of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) particles into the A6063 alloy. The bulk amounts of stir zone (SZ) microhardness for fabricated composite were equated to the results calculation by a Hall–Petch-type equation between obtained hardness versus particle grain size. The effect of surface-particle distribution over the material flow around the pin was also examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Additionally, compared with the base metal, both the microhardness and tensile strengths of the friction stir processed (FSP) composites were progressively improved with gradually increases the number of FSP passes. Adding the ZrO2 ceramic particles, the applied severe plastic deformation and elevated the strain rate of the materials during FSP. As possibly will be seen, adding the ZrO2 particles resulted in an enhancement in the microstructural behaviour tensile strength and microhardness.