Engineered Alloy Structures by Friction Stir Reaction Processing

This SBIR Phase I effort examines the feasibility of an innovative surface modification technology incorporating friction stir reaction processing for producing engineered alloy structures, or conventional parts with strategically enhanced locations for wear, environmental, and/or creep-fatigue resistance. Friction stir reaction processing is an emerging microstructural modification technique based on the solid state friction stir welding and friction stir processing. It can be applied to enhance the microstructure-properties of the parent material through the introduction of nano-particles into the "weld" thus improve the damage tolerance capabilities of the reinforced region. This separate step allows high value parts to have tailored microstructure-properties based on component region-specific requirements, as opposed to one set of microstructure-properties fits all as a compromise.