Particle distribution and tool wear in friction stir processed Al-SiC <inf>p</inf> coatings

Al-Mg alloy was friction stir processed (FSP) incorporating two different sized SiC particles. Reduction of particle size after FSP was very significant with coarser SiC particles than finer. The density of SiC particles in FSP nugget was found to be uniform from top to bottom with coarser SiC particles, whereas it was more at the bottom than the top with finer. Tool wear after FSP was found to be relatively more with coarser particles than finer. © Carl Hanser Verlag.