Abstract
Two different sized SiC particles (~ 60 nm and ~ 1 μm) were mixed into AZ31 alloy by multi-pass friction stir processing (FSP). The microstructure and mechanical properties of the processed material were investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and uniaxial tensile tests. After FSP without SiC addition, the grains were refined to several microns. The elongation was improved significantly after processing, at an expense of significant sacrifice in yield strength. 60 nm SiC particles were composited homogeneously in the matrix by four passes of FSP to enhance the yield strength. The yield strength exhibited a 68% improvement which could well compensate the decreased yield strength in FSP without SiC addition. In addition, the 1 μm SiC particles were inhomogeneous in the stir zone which also induced an increase in yield strength. However, the elongation decreased sharply because cracks nucleated and propagated quickly at the SiC–matrix interface.
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