Devices, systems, and methods for increased wear resistance during low temperature friction stir processing
AssigneeMazak Corporation
InventorsRodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of friction stir processing (FSP) includes contacting a first workpiece with a FSP tool, where the first workpiece is a low-melting temperature metal or alloy and the FSP tool is a single-body FSP tool having a diamond working surface. The method also includes rotating the FSP tool in contact with the first workpiece at an interface and generating thermal energy at the interface to heat the first workpiece. The method further includes conducting thermal energy away from the interface with the FSP tool, and friction stirring the first workpiece at a temperature of the FSP tool below 800° C.
Claims12
1-9. (canceled)
A friction stir processing tool rotatable around a central rotational axis, the friction stir processing tool comprising:
- a single body monolithically formed of polycrystalline diamond, the single body comprising:
- a shoulder of the polycrystalline diamond;
- a lower pin of the polycrystalline diamond extending downwardly from the shoulder;
- an upper portion of the polycrystalline diamond extending upwardly from the shoulder and including a side surface;
- an upper surface of the polycrystalline diamond opposite the shoulder, the upper surface extending radially inward from the side surface and transverse to the central rotational axis;
- the single body having a total length extending along the central rotational axis from a lowermost end of the lower pin to the upper surface;
- the polycrystalline diamond extends the total length of the single body tool;
- and
- wherein the pin, shoulder, and upper portion share a continuous microstructure of the polycrystalline diamond.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.