Microstructure and hardness performance of AA6061 aluminium composite using friction stir processing

• Main Authors: Marini, C. D., Fatchurrohman, Nanang
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: http://icites2018.com/ 2018
• Subjects: TS Manufactures
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/20788/1/Microstructure%20and%20hardness%20performance%20of%20AA6061.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/20788/; http://icites2018.com/

Rice husk ash (RHA) is an industrial waste that has become a potential reinforced material for aluminium matrix composite (AMCs) due to low cost and abundantly available resources. Friction stir processing (FSP) has been introduced as a method to modify surface properties of the metal and alloy including theirs composite as well. The present work reports the production and characterization of AA6061 and AA6061/5 vol% RHA using FSP using parameters rotation speed 1000 rpm and traversed speed 25 mm/min. The microstructure was studied using optical microscopy (OM). A homogenous dispersion of RHA particles was obtained in the composite. No agglomeration or segregation was observed. The produced composite exhibited a fine grain structure. An improvement in hardness profile was observed as AA6061/5 vol% RHA improves in hardness compared to FSPed of AA6061 without reinforcement.