Microstructure and properties after friction stir processing of twin-roll cast Al–Mn–Cu–Be alloy

Macerl, Matjaž (author), Zupanič, Franc (author), Hočuršćak, Lara (author), Klobčar, Damjan (author), Kovács, Andras (author), Bončina, Tonica (author)

We studied the effect of friction stir processing (FSP) on the microstructure and properties of high-speed twin-roll cast strips made of an experimental Al–Mn–Cu–Be alloy. The samples were examined using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy, microchemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, and indentation testing. During FSP, the rotational speed varied, while other parameters remained constant. The uniformity of the microstructure increased with the growing rotational speed. In the stir zone, several processes took place, and the most important were: recrystallisation of the matrix grains, fragmentation of the primary intermetallic particles Al▫$_{15}$▫Mn▫$_{3}$▫Be▫$_{2}$▫ and their more uniform distribution in the stir zone, fracture, and dispersion of the eutectic icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (IQC), transformation of tiny Al▫$_{15}$▫Mn▫$_{3}$▫Be▫$_{2}$▫ and IQC particles into the τ▫$_{1}$▫-Al▫$_{26}$▫Mn▫$_{6}$▫Cu▫$_{4}$▫ phase and precipitation of Al–Mn–Cu precipitates. In the thermomechanically affected zone, new dislocations formed as well as dispersion of the IQC eutectic phase and recrystallisation of the matrix grains. In the heat-affected zone, dissolution of θ’-Al▫$_{2}$▫Cu precipitates occurred. The hardness variation was not severe between the stir and heat-affected zones.

• Language: English
• Keywords: casting, microstructure, friction stir processing, hardness, transformation, aluminium
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 5, art. 630
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176308
• UDC: 669.2/.8:620.1
• ISSN on article: 2073-4352
• DOI: 10.3390/cryst12050630
• COBISS.SI-ID: 106703363
• Publication date in RUL: 27.11.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Crystals
• Shortened title: Crystals
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2073-4352
• COBISS.SI-ID: 36677893

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: litje, mikrostruktura, obdelava s trenjem in mešanjem, trdota, preobrazba, aluminij