Microstructural Aspects of the Fabrication of Al/AlO Composite by Friction Stir Processing.

The purpose of this work was the examination of microstructural evolution during the fabrication of an Al/AlO composite by friction stir processing (FSP). In order to obtain new insight into this process, a longitudinal section of the produced composite was studied, and advanced characterization techniques (including electron backscatter diffraction and microhardness mapping) were applied. It was found that the reinforcing particles rapidly rearranged into the "onion-ring" structure, which was very stable against the subsequent dispersion.