Investigation on the effects of FSW process on the butt joints of Al-12%Si/10wt%TiC In-situ composites

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science & Engineering

October 06-08, 2014 Hilton San Antonio Airport, USA

Belete Sirahbizu Yigezu, P K Jha and M M Mahapatra

Accepted Abstracts: Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

In fusion as well as solid state welding of materials, the joining process takes place due to the combined effect of temperature, pressure and metallurgical conditions. Consequently, certain metallurgical and mechanical property changes are expected in the weld joint. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical property changes on the butt weld joint of friction stir welded Al+12Si/10wt%TiC in-situ composite plates at hot rolled condition. Axial load, tool geometry, tool rotational speed and traverse speed was considered as input parameters and ultimate tensile strength, percentage elongation and micro-hardness as output measures. The tensile fracture mechanism of the experimental composites also assessed. The results revealed that Al+12Si/10wt%TiC in-situ composite plates were successfully joined by FSW process with a joint efficiency of 85%. The percentage elongation enhanced by 14.3% whereas the UTS reduced by 15%. The fractured surface of the tensile specimen exhibited a purely brittle fracture mechanism without dimple formation in both base composite as well as FSW butt joint.