Investigation on the mechanical properties of micro-sized B4C particles reinforced with FSW of aluminium alloy composites

Abstract

The aluminum alloys AA7075 and AA6061 were successfully fused together using friction stir welding (FSW), which added the additional strength of B4C microparticles. As a function of processing factors like rotational and traversal speeds, the distribution pattern of B4C microparticles of varying volumes was investigated using mechanical properties. The refined grain structure brought on by dynamic recrystallization and pinning of distributed B4C particles in the SZ was found to considerably affect strain rate, tensile strength, and microhardness. An increase in the volume proportion of B4C particles improved the mechanical characteristics of FSWed joints. Joints made by Friction stir welding at 1200 rpm rotational and 45 mm/min traversal speeds with 10% B4C particles are around 15% harder than the hardness of as received AA7075 base material, with a microhardness of 189.15 HV and a tensile strength of 264.30 MPa.