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The purpose of this paper is to manufacture an aluminium square cross-sectional bar by using conventional lathe machine from aluminium scraps through friction stir back extrusion (FSBE) process and study the viability of the process to produce the square bar.

The important tasks involved in this work are as follows: designing and manufacturing the chamber and plunger components used for experimental work, experimentally studying the thermo-mechanical progression of FSBE process on adapted conventional lathe machine and analyzing the relation between controlled parameter (like rotational speed and consolidation time) and response parameter (like extrusion time, extrusion rate, grain structure and hardness).

Preliminary results show that increasing or decreasing rotational speeds results in defects. Cold crack and twisting defect were shown on square bar fabricated using low rotational speed, and hot crack defects were observed on surface of the bars produced by higher rotational speed. The manufactured square bars were tested using optical microscope and Vickers hardness tester. Microstructural studies reveal that initial grains of aluminium wire undergo significant refinement and result in equiaxed and recrystallized grains in the square bar fabricated through FSBE method. The hardness tests show almost even distribution of hardness in the specimen, but hardness was lower than parent aluminium; in comparison, uneven distribution of hardness was seen in parent aluminium.

FSBE process is the new method to produce the bars and rods with better mechanical properties. The ambition of this work is to convert the existing scrap materials to useful products. Based on the literature review, the work has planned to perform extrusion process with the minimum effort and limited sources. In this manner, the work is highly original and under scientific mandate.

Friction stir processing (FSP) is overviewed with the process variables, along with the thermal aspect of different metals.

With its inbuilt advantages, FSP is used to reduce the failure in the structural integrity of the body panels of automobiles, airplanes and lashing rails. FSP has excellent process ability and surface treatability with good corrosion resistance and high strength at elevated temperatures. Process parameters such as rotation speed of the tool, traverse speed, tool tilt angle, groove design, volume fraction and increase in number of tool passes should be considered for generating a processed and defect-free surface of the workpiece.

FSP process is used for modifying the surface by reinforcement of composites to improve the mechanical properties and results in the ultrafine grain refinement of microstructure. FSP uses the frictional heat and mechanical deformation for achieving the maximum performance using the low-cost tool; the production time is also very less.

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