Microstructural Modification of Al-Ce-Ni-Mn by Friction Stir Processing

Aluminum-cerium alloys are exhibit promising as high-temperature materials due to their high thermal stability of Al11Ce3 phase. Furthermore, the addition of nickel and manganese has been demonstrated to provide pronounced resistance to creep. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Al-12Ce-4Ni-1Mn alloy (wt.%) were investigated after subjecting it to friction stir processing (FSP). The FSP was controlled by the tool pin threaded cylindrical profile using a tool rotational speed of 935 rpm and a tool traverse speed of 5 mm/min. The microstructure of as-cast and FSPed specimens was analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of all specimens were analyzed using the Vickers hardness test and tensile test. The results revealed that the FSP refined the microstructure and enhanced the structural homogeneity of the alloy. Additionally, friction stir processing significantly improved the mechanical properties, enhancing both the hardness and tensile strength of cast aluminum-cerium-nickel-manganese alloys.