Al-Ni in situ surface composites were fabricated by friction stir processing method. Friction stir processing produced a composite with nickel and NiAl 3 as reinforcement particles in aluminium matrix. The particles were fine and were in the submicrometer size range. The separation distance between the particles was very small. Impression creep experiments were conducted on the samples both at friction stir zone and base material zone at various temperatures. Steady state creep rates were estimated, and activation energy for creep was calculated. It is observed that the friction stir zone offered a higher creep resistance compared to the base metal zone. Higher creep resistance is attributed to the dissolution of nickel atoms into aluminium matrix and the presence of fine nickel particles and NiAl 3 precipitates. The measured activation energy indicated that the associated creep mechanism is the dislocation creep in the temperature range of 30-150 ∘ C, both in friction stir zone and base metal zone. At higher temperatures (150-180 ∘ C) the diffusion creep mechanism is suggested.
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