INVITED: Cold spraying + Friction stir welding/processing hybrid process: A new method to improve the mechanical properties of components
By Wenya Li (Northwestern Polytechnical University), Na Li (Northwestern Polytechnical University), Chunjie Huang (Northwestern Polytechnical University), Kang Yang (Northwestern Polytechnical University), Xiawei Yang (Northwestern Polytechnical University), Yaxin Xu (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

Cold spray (CS) initially as new solid-state coating technique has been widely concerned since the year of 2000 because it is quite suitable for massive production of metallic materials or metal matrix composites. Friction stir welding/processing (FSW/P) as new and revolutionary solid-state joining process has also been worldwidely investigated since their invention. Over the years, CS and FSW/P have been greatly developed in equipments, processes and applications. In recent years, our group found the synergistic effect of CS + FSW/P, i.e. CS can significantly improve the overall properties of FSWed aluminum alloy joints, vice versa, FSW/P can greatly modify the microstructure and properties of CSed deposits (or even as coatings). Therefore, we proposed the CS + FSW/P hybrid process. The synergistic mechanisms were investigated systematically in terms of microstructure evolution and mechanical property improvement to promote the hybrid process applications.