Friction Stir Processing (FSP) of surface composites used in aerospace & automobile components

Abstract: Nowadays, there is increasing demand for operating properties of manufactured components but with reducing mass of a structure which triggered manufacturing technology to find a new fabrication methodology of surface layers that exhibit the indispensable functional properties. Friction stir processing (FSP) of surface layers is a new method which was developed by Welding Institute (TWI) in the year 1991 which is situated in Great Britain. The Friction Stir Processing technique is primarily employed for the restructuring of microstructure in layers close to the surface of processed metallic components and has a high future prospective in the field of superplasticity and metal matrix composites. Particularly, the procedure may result in: surface composite, high quality and smooth grained structure, modification of cast alloys at a microstructural level, alloying with specific elements, refinement of the quality of the welded joints. This review study focuses on the alloying process with the help of friction stir processing of aluminium as well as magnesium along with different reinforcements. The study consists of the outcomes of multiple reinforcement addition methods which affect the components in terms of mechanical and tribological properties. The results establish that the ultimate tensile strength, strain rate and wear and corrosion resistance are boosted by the incorporation of reinforcements.

Keywords: Aluminium Alloy, Magnesium Alloy, Friction Stir Processing