The effect of preliminary heat treatment on structure and properties of a multipass friction stir processed 2024 aluminum alloy
摘要
The results of the studies into structural evolution of the aluminum alloy 2024 samples subjected to friction stir processing after annealing and quenching/aging are presented. It is shown that despite the differences in mechanical characteristics between the heat-treated samples, similar microstructures formed in their stir zones with close values of ultimate tensile strength and yield stress are observed. The stir zone consists of solid solution grains 1–2 μm in size and S and S′ Al2CuMg < 100 nm-sized precipitates distributed over the joint zones. Monitoring a force resisting the tool movement allows establishing that the heat-treated samples demonstrate different degrees of plasticization during friction stir processing.