The effects of friction-stir process parameters on the fabrication of Ti/SiC nano-composite surface layer

► Ti/SiC composite layers were fabricated on CP-Ti by friction-stir processing. ► Uniform dispersion of nano-sized SiC was achieved after four passes. ► The nano-composite layer showed a matrix of ultra fine dynamically restorated grains. ► The nano-composite layer with uniform SiC dispersion exhibited superior hardness. ► Superior hardness was related to nano-sized SiC and its role on grain boundary pinning.