Figure 1. FSW setup, AS-advancing side, RS-retreating side, (a)
AA8011-AS and (b) AA6082-AS.
The friction stir processed (FSPed) plates were cut with respect to the
tests to be done using water-jet technology. The tests conducted were
the microstructural analysis, tensile tests, hardness and fatigue tests.
The microstructural analysis was performed using the metallurgical
microscope. The specimens were grinded, polished and chemically etched
prior the analysis. The chemical etchants used were the modified
Keller’s reagent (10 ml HNO3, 1.5 ml HCL, 1.0 ml HF and
87.5 ml distilled H2O) and Weck’s reagents (1g NaOH, 4g
KMnO4 and 100 ml distilled H2O). The
Vickers hardness test was performed using the Falcon 5000 hardness
testing machine through the guidance of ASTM E384-11 standard. The
Hounsfield H25K tensile testing machine with Horizon operating software
was used to perform the tensile tests. The ASTM-E8M-04 standard was used
in designing tensile specimen and also the performance of the tests. The
fatigue tests were conducted using the Instron 8801 (100kN) with
Bluehill-3 operating software. The fatigue was performed based on the
ASTM: E466-07 standard. The fatigue tests were conducted at a frequency
of 20 Hz with the minimum and the maximum amplitudes of 30% and 80% of
the ultimate tensile strength (UTS).