CHARACTERIZATION OF REINFORCING PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN A FRICTION STIR WELDED Al-SiC EXTRUSION

摘要

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a new technique that shows great promise for improving the quality of welds in high strength aluminums. Relative motion between a rotating, non-consumable tool and the work-piece produces a solid-state weld via in situ extrusion and forging. In this work, friction stir welds were made on a discontinuously reinforced aluminum, specifically, a 7093-25% SiC + 15% Al extrusion. Statistical image analysis was applied to metallographic sections of the as extruded and as welded material, to investigate and characterize the material microstructure within the weld. Of particular interest is the change in particle size distribution across/through the weld.