Providing Plastic Zone Extrusion

Abstract

Plastic zone extrusion may be provided. First, stock may be placed in a chamber. Then frictional heat may be generated within the stock to heat the stock to a plastic zone of the stock in the chamber. The stock may then be extruded through an orifice in the chamber after the stock is at the plastic zone.

1 . A method for providing plastic zone extrusion, the method comprising:
 placing stock into a chamber;   generating frictional heat within the stock to heat the stock to a plastic zone of the stock in the chamber; and   extruding, through an orifice in the chamber, the stock after the stock is at the plastic zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing stock into the chamber comprises placing swarf into the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing stock into the chamber comprises placing nano-particles into the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the nano-particles comprise at least one of the following: aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, copper, and carbon nano-tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the frictional heat within the stock comprises:
 rotating the orifice; and   applying pressure to the stock.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the frictional heat within the stock comprises creating a plasticized layer within the stock, the plasticized layer adjacent the orifice. 
     
     
         7 . A system of extruding a material, the system comprising:
 a chamber defining a volume configured to contain stock and having an orifice;   a plunger sized to penetrate and mateably communicate within the chamber; and   a motor operative to rotate at least one of the chamber and the plunger.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the chamber further comprises a die, wherein the motor is operative to rotate only the chamber and the die. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plunger further comprises a die, wherein the motor is operative to rotate only the plunge and the die. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a fusible plug located between the plunger and the stock contained in the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the stock contained in the chamber comprises swarf. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the stock contained in the chamber comprises nano-particles. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the nano-particles comprises at least one of the following: aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, copper, and carbon nano-tubes. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing friction stir, the method comprising:
 softening material at a surface of a workpiece; and   mechanically stirring the softened material to cause at least one of the following:   consolidation and mechanical alloying.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein softening the material at the surface of the workpiece comprising pushing a rotating tool against the workpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein pushing the rotating tool against the workpiece comprises:
 penetrating the workpiece with a pin; and   pushing a shoulder against the workpiece, the rotating tool comprising the shoulder and the pin protruding from the shoulder.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 applying nano-particles to the surface;   dispersing the nano-particles over a portion of the surface; and   mechanically alloying the nano-particles with a matrix of the softened material.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein dispersing the nano-particles over the portion of the surface comprises dispersing up to  20 % volume fraction of nano-particles over the portion of the surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the nano-particles comprise an Al-Al 2 O 3  nano-composite.