Friction stir processing for microstructural modification of an aluminum casting

Friction stir processing (FSP) can be used to locally tailor the microstructure to enhance specific properties. In this work, FSP has been applied to cast aluminum plates to modify the Microstructure to improve mechanical properties. The influence of FSP parameters on microstructural changes and microstructure-mechanical property correlations is described. FSP is shown to homogenize and refine the cast microstructure and completely eliminate porosity. This results in a significant increase in both tensile and yield strength. This concept can be used to locally enhance the properties of castings.