Wear Resistance Analysis of a Lightweight Aluminum Alloy Sheet Friction Stir Joint Area

The friction stir joining experiment was performed on a 6061-T6 aluminum alloy sheet 1 mm thick by optimization of different process parameters, and the microstructure and performance analysis of the joint area using a metallographic microscope, friction and wear testing machine, and scanning electron microscope were evaluated. The results show that the crystalline grains in the joint area of the specimen were refined under a given parameter, and the precipitation of the reinforcing phase improved the performance of the joint area. The best parameters for grain refinement were found to be a rotation speed of 8000 rpm and a traverse speed of 300 mm/min. The specimen obtained at 15,000 rpm and 200 mm/min exhibited the smallest milling weight loss. The smallest average friction coefficient of the specimen was observed at 8000 rpm and 300 mm/min. The friction weight loss trend of the specimens obtained under each parameter was basically the same as the friction coefficient. The wear form of each specimen was found to be mainly the adhesive wear, accompanied by the abrasive one.