Features of microstructure formation in the AK4-1 and AK12D aluminum alloys after their joint friction stir processing

Abstract

Friction stir processing is one of the modern methods of local modification of the surface of aluminum alloys in the solid-phase state, which provides the dispersion of structural components. In heat-hardened aluminum alloys with a matrix type structure, heat treatment following after friction stir processing can lead to abnormal grain growth in the stir zone. However, in alloys with the structure close to microduplex type, a fine-grained structure can be formed after friction stir processing and heat treatment. This work is aimed at evaluating the possibility of increasing the microstructure thermal stability of the AK4-1 (Al–Cu–Mg–Fe–Si–Ni) matrix-type aluminum alloy. For this purpose, AK12D (Al–Si–Cu–Ni–Mg) aluminum alloy with the structure close to microduplex type was locally mixed into the studied alloy by friction stir processing. Subsequent Т6 heat treatment was carried out according to the standard mode for the AK4-1 alloy. Studies showed that the stir zone had an elliptical shape with an onion-ring structure. This structure comprised alternating rings with different amounts and sizes of excess phases. At the same time, in the stir zone center, the width of rings and the average area of excess phases were larger compared to the stir zone periphery, where the width of rings and the average area of particles were smaller. The average area of excess phases in the rings with their higher content was smaller than in the rings with their lower content. This distribution of excess phases leads to the formation of a fine-grained microstructure, where the average size of grains depends on the interparticle distance in the α-Al solid solution.

Keywords

• aluminum alloys
• ak4-1
• ak12d
• friction stir processing
• heat treatment
• thermal stability
• structure of onion rings
• onion-ring structure