Effect of friction stir processing parameters on the microstructural and electrical properties of copper

Friction stir processing (FSP) is an innovative technology, based on friction stir welding (FSW) operative principles, which can be used for changing locally the microstructure and the mechanical properties of conventional materials. In this work, the copper alloy C12200 was friction stir processed using two distinct tools, i.e. a scrolled and a conical shoulder tool, in order to promote different thermomechanical conditions inside the stirred volume, and consequently, varied post-processed microstructures. The influence of the tool geometry and tool rotation and traverse speeds on the microstructural and electrical properties of the processed copper alloy was analysed. The processing conditions were found to have an important influence on the electrical conductivity of the processed material. The differences in electrical conductivity were explained based on dislocations density effects. The effect of the dislocations density on electrical conductivity of the processed material was found to prevail over the effect of the grain boundaries.