Multipass Friction Stir Processing of Laser-Powder Bed Fusion AlSi10Mg: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

The effect of multipass friction stir processing (FSP) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an AlSi10Mg alloy produced by laser-powder bed fusion was investigated. FSP was performed at a rotational speed of 950 rpm and traverse speed of 85 mm/min. The results indicated that FSP destroyed the coarse grain structure in the as-built AlSi10Mg by generating fine and equiaxed grain structures with shear texture components of A(1)*(111)[1 (1) over bar2] and A(2)*(111)[11 (2) over bar], in addition to causing fragmentation and refinement of the Si networks. FSP reduced the tensile strength slightly but significantly improved ductility. One-pass FSP exhibited superior mechanical properties compared with the two- and three-pass scenarios. The higher strength of the one-pass sample was attributed to the strengthening mechanisms induced by the Si particles, which were grown by repeated FSP. The higher ductility of the one-pass sample was explained using the kernel and grain average misorientations. Furthermore, the post-FSP microstructural evolution and fracture behavior of the samples were discussed.