The Effect of Copper Powder Size in Fabrication of Al-Mg-Cu Composite Via Friction Stir Processing

Nowadays, fabrication of metal matrix composites with high mechanical properties and modified microstructures has attracted many attentions, so some methods have been developed for this purpose. One of these methods is friction stir processing, a novel modifying technique for fabrication of MMCs. In this research AA5083 aluminum alloy was chosen to be processed. In order to produce this composite, 20 micron and 40 nanometer Cu powders were contrived in a groove and the tool was plunged into the plate. Different passes were made on the material using a tool rotation rate of 1900rpm, a tool traverse speed of 25mm/min and a tilt angle of 3°. Microstructural changes were examined by optical microscopy. Tensile tests were determined for AA5083 and FSPed with and without powder and finally the microhardness of the material was measured perpendicular to the processing direction.

Keywords:

AA5083 aluminum alloy , Friction stir processing , Mechanical properties , Metal matrix composite