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Effect of Friction Stir Processing on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ91C Magnesium Cast Alloy Weld Zone

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Abstract

In this study, friction stir processing (FSP) was applied to the GTAW (TIG)-welded AZ91C cast alloy to refine the microstructure and optimize the mechanical properties of the weld zone. Microstructural investigation of the samples was performed by optical microscopy and the phases in the microstructure were determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructural evaluations showed that FSP destroys the coarse dendritic microstructure. Furthermore, it dissolves the secondary hard and brittle β-Mg17Al12 phase existing at grain boundaries of the TIG weld zone. The closure and decrease in amount of porosities along with the elimination of the cracks in the microstructure were observed. These changes were followed by a significant grain refinement to an average value of 11 µm. The results showed that the hardness values increased to the mean ones, respectively, for as-cast (63 Hv), TIG weld zone (67 Hv), and stir zone (79 Hv). The yield and ultimate strength were significantly enhanced after FSP. The fractography evaluations, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), indicated to a transition from brittle to ductile fracture surface after applying FSP to the TIG weld zone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran

    Behzad Hassani, Fathallah Karimzadeh, Mohammad Hossein Enayati & Soheil Sabooni

  2. Institute for Materials Science and Welding, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria

    Rudolf Vallant

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  1. Behzad Hassani
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  2. Fathallah Karimzadeh
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Correspondence to Behzad Hassani.

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Hassani, B., Karimzadeh, F., Enayati, M.H. et al. Effect of Friction Stir Processing on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AZ91C Magnesium Cast Alloy Weld Zone. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 25, 2776–2785 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2129-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-016-2129-x

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