Improving the Hardness and Microstructural Properties of Piston Alloy Using the FSP Method

Al-Si alloys are widely used in the manufacture of automotive parts such as pistons and cylinders. Although it has desired properties for use in pistons, some microstructural properties of this alloy, such as dendrites or the presence of needle-like silicones, reduce the performance of the parts produced. In this research, to modify the microstructural properties and thus improve the mechanical properties of the alloy, the friction stir processing (FSP) method is used. Also, the effect of process parameters such as rotational and traverse speeds as well as the shape of the pin on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the samples, are studied. The results show that the FSP process improves the microstructural properties of the base metal, and thus improves its mechanical properties. Furthermore, by increasing the rotational speed or decreasing the traverse speed of the tool, the silicon particles become finer, and consequently, the microstructural properties are improved.