Stirring Friction Processing Controlling Texture Evolution and Toughening Mechanism of 7075 Aluminum Alloy

DENG Jiangliu; MENG Xun; ZHU Dandan; LONG Shaolei; PAN Shengshan; LING Min

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.003

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1) : 26-35. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.003

Light Alloy Forming

Stirring Friction Processing Controlling Texture Evolution and Toughening Mechanism of 7075 Aluminum Alloy

DENG Jiangliu¹, MENG Xun², ZHU Dandan³, LONG Shaolei^3,*, PAN Shengshan³, LING Min³

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Abstract

The work aims to regulate the microstructural texture of 7075 aluminum alloy sheets using Friction Stir Processing (FSP) technology to improve its mechanical properties. A multi-scale characterization approach involving scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to systematically reveal the correlation mechanisms among processing, structure, and performance. The study particularly focused on the synergistic effects of shear deformation and frictional heat on the microstructural evolution of the aluminum alloy, as well as the influence of various processing parameters on texture development. The study found that FSP technology could transform the original coarse and inhomogeneous microstructure (with an average grain size of approximately 10 μm) into a refined equiaxed grain structure. Optimal processing parameters (1 000 r/min and 70 mm/min) resulted in a minimum grain size of 0.66 μm. The gradient processing intensity significantly affected the distribution of dislocation density, with the geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) density reaching a peak value of 249×10¹² m^-2 under these parameters. Texture evolution exhibited significant parameter dependence. Under optimal process parameters, the volume fraction of hard-oriented A/E/S textures markedly decreased, while the soft-oriented cube texture {001}<100> showed a significant increase, leading to an overall texture strength reduction of approximately 25%. Although the yield strength of the sample processed at 1 000 r/min× 70 mm/min decreased by 93 MPa due to reduced texture strengthening, the synergistic effects of grain refinement, high dislocation density, and soft texture orientation contributed to achieving a tensile strength of 527 MPa and an elongation of 22%, representing improvements of 8.5% and 86% compared with the base material, respectively. This study elucidates the influence of FSP processing parameters on texture evolution and clarifies the deformation hardening mechanism dominated by soft orientation textures. It provides a new theoretical framework and process guidance for overcoming the challenge of achieving high strength and plasticity in aluminum alloy. Through the synergistic optimization of the microstructure, a successful bidirectional enhancement of strength and plasticity in 7075 aluminum alloy is achieved.

Key words

friction stir processing (FSP) / 7075 aluminum alloy / grain refinement / geometrically necessary dislocations (GND) / texture optimization / mechanical properties

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DENG Jiangliu, MENG Xun, ZHU Dandan, LONG Shaolei, PAN Shengshan, LING Min. Stirring Friction Processing Controlling Texture Evolution and Toughening Mechanism of 7075 Aluminum Alloy[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(1): 26-35 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.003

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Funding

Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Programme (Natural Sciences) (Qiankehe Foundation-ZK[2024] General 516); Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Programme (Natural Sciences) Project (Qiankehe Foundation[2020]1Y199); Scientific Research Start-up Funds for High-level Talents Project (XJGC20190949)