Effect of SiC particles on microstructure and mechanical property of friction stir processed AA6061-T4

Friction stir processing of AA6061-T4 alloy with SiC particles was successfully carried out. SiC particles were uniformly dispersed into an AA6061-T4 matrix. Also SiC particles promoted the grain refinement of the AA6061-T4 matrix by FSP. The mean grain size of the stir zone (SZ) with the SiC particles was obviously smaller than that of the stir zone without the SiC particles. The microhardness of the SZ with the SiC particles reached about HV80 due to the grain refinement and the distribution of the SiC particles.