In the presented work, the effect of friction stir processing admixing the zirconium tungstate ZrW2O8 powder on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of the AA5056 Al-Mg alloy stir zone has been studied. The FSP resulted in obtaining dense composite stir zones where α-ZrW2O8 underwent the following changes: (i) high-temperature transformation into metastable β'-ZrW2O8 and (ii) decomposition into WO3 and ZrO2 oxides followed by the formation of intermetallic compounds WAl12 and ZrAl3. These precipitates served as reinforcing phases to improve mechanical and tribological characteristics of the obtained fine-grained composites. The reduced values of wear rate and friction coefficient are due to the combined action the Hall-Petch mechanism and reinforcement by the decomposition products, including Al2O3, ZrO2, β'-ZrW2O8 and intermetallic compounds such as WAl12 and ZrAl3. Potential applications of the above-discussed composites maybe related to their improved tribological characteristics, for example in aerospace and vehicle-building industries.
Keywords: ZrW2O8; aluminum matrix composites; friction stir processing; negative thermal expansion.