RETRACTED: Recent development in friction stir processing of aluminum alloys: Microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, wear and corrosion behaviors (Retracted Article)

In this paper, the effect of mechanical vibration with reinforcement particles namely Silicon Carbide (SiC) on microstructure, mechanical properties, wear, and corrosion behaviors of aluminum alloy surface composites fabricated via friction stir processing (FSP) was investigated. The method was entitled friction stir vibration process (FSVP). The results revealed that recrystallized fine grains formed in all processing samples as a result of dynamic recovery and recrystallization, while samples processed in friction stir vibration processing resulted in better grain refinement in the stir zone than in conventional friction stir processing. Compared to conventional friction stir processing, in friction stir vibration processing, the hardness and tensile strength increased due to microstructure modification and better reinforcing distribution. From corrosion analysis, the corrosion resistance of the friction stir vibration processed samples showed a significant increase compared to the friction stir processed specimens. The wear results indicated that the wear resistance of friction stir vibration processed specimens is higher than friction stir processed specimens due to the development of smaller grains and a more homogenous distribution of the strengthening particles as the vibration is applied.