Parametric Study of Friction Stir Processing of Magnesium-Based AE42 Alloy

Friction stir processing (FSP) is one of the severe plastic deformation processes which can significantly affect the material properties. The friction stir processed (FSPed) zone is extremely sensitive to the FSP parameters. The main aim of the current investigation is to analyze the simultaneous influence of the major FSP parameters on the mechanical behavior of a magnesium-based AE42 alloy. In this investigation, Taguchi's experimental design approach was utilized to determine the optimized set of investigated FSP parameters for processing the AE42 alloy. Hardness of the FSPed specimens was considered as the output response of the experimental design. Cooling temperature during FSP, FSP tool rotational speed, and number of FSP passes were found to be the most influential FSP parameters in the current investigation. A nonlinear regression equation for the output response and the FSP process parameters was also developed using MINITAB 16 software. The developed equation was found to accurately predict the output response of the FSPed AE42 alloy.