Relationship between friction stir processing parameters and torque, temperature and the penetration depth of the tool

In the present study, an investigation has been carried out on the friction stir processing (FSP) of an AlSi9Mg cast aluminium alloy. The relationship between the FSP parameters and the torque action on the tool, temperature of the modified surface and microstructure was investigated. It was found that an increase in rotational speed of the tool causes a decrease in the torque and an increase in temperature of the processed material. Simultaneously, the results showed that an increase in travelling speed of the tool increases the torque and decreases the temperature. The metallographic examination of the processed surface layer of the material has shown that the microstructure of stir zone can be refined. The penetration depth in which the microstructure was modified by the shoulder action mainly depended on the rotation speed and to a lesser extent on the travelling speed.