Fabrication of AA6082-WC nanocomposite by friction stir processing and optimization using Taguchi approach

Abstract EN

Friction stir processing (FSP) is a novel solid-state technique based on the principle of friction stir welding.

It is used for material processing in order to modify the microstructures and mechanical properties and to fabricate metal matrix composites.

FSP has been successfully employed for fabrication of AA6082/ (6, 10, 14, and 18 vol.

% / WC) composite materials.

Tungsten carbide nanoparticles with an average diameter of 50 nm were added as a reinforcement material.

Tungsten carbide particles packed in a groove of width (0.4, 0.7, 1, and 1.3 mm) and depth 5 mm to result in four different volume fractions.

FSP experiment parameters like tool rotational/traverse speed, groove width, tool geometry, and number of passes were studied.

The mechanical and wear behavior of composite material fabricated by FSP were investigated.

The process parameters were optimized using the Taguchi analysis, at last, optimum values of corresponding tests are determined.

The results were confirmed by further experiments.

The results reveal that ultimate tensile strength, hardness and wear resistance of WC/A6082 nanocomposite are enhanced, compared to those of the AA6082 matrix, and Wear rate significantly decreased after a multi-pass.