Effect of Zn Addition on the Hardness of Friction Stir Processed Aluminium 1100

The use of aluminum as a vehicle structural component is increasingly being used. However, aluminum has a relatively lower hardnessHardness than steelSteels. Friction Stir Processing (FSP) is one of the surface hardening processes developed based on the principle of Friction stir weldingWelding. Alloying element Zinc (Zn) are often used as a metal alloy to increase hardnessHardness due to high corrosionCorrosion resistant properties and high solubility to increase the hardnessHardness of aluminum. This research aims to determine the effect of Zn volume fraction on the physical and mechanical properties of friction stir processed aluminum 1100 series (AA1100). Mechanical properties were analyzed by Vickers hardnessHardness testing, while physical properties were tested by observing the distribution of Zn particles through macro, microstructures, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The Zn volume fraction variations used in the friction stir weldingWelding process were 5.6, 11.2, and 17.7%, while as a reference, FSP without Zn was performed. The parameters of tool rotation speed, feed rate, dwell time, and tool plunge depth were set uniformly. SEM observations showed uneven distribution of Zn in the stir zone. It is evident from the EnergyEnergy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy observation that the highest Zn content is found in the flow arm zone, while the onion ring has a relatively lower Zn content. The highest surface hardnessHardness of 53.2 HVN was obtained in the FSP specimen with Zn volume variation of 17.7% mm3, while the surface hardnessHardness of 20.3 HVN was obtained in the FSP specimen without Zn addition.