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Microstructural development and mechanical properties of interrupted aged Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy

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Abstract

The effects of a recently developed interrupted aging procedure on the microstructural development and mechanical properties of the commercial Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy 6061 have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing. This so-called T6I6 temper involves partially aging the alloy at a typical T6 temperature (the underaging stage), quenching, then holding at a reduced temperature (in this case 65 °C) to facilitate further hardening (the secondary aging stage), prior to final aging to peak properties at, or close to, the initial aging (T6) temperature (the reaging stage). The T6I6 aging treatment produces simultaneous increases in tensile properties, hardness, and toughness, as compared with conventional T6. The overall improvement in the mechanical properties of 6061 T6I6 is associated with the formation of a greater number of finer, and more densely dispersed, β″ precipitates in the final microstructure. Secondary precipitation took place during the interrupted aging stage of the T6I6 temper, resulting in the formation of a large number of Guinier-Preston (GP) zones that served as precursors to the needlelike β″ precipitates when elevated temperature aging was resumed.

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Author notes

  1. J. Buha (Postgraduate Student, JSPS Fellow)

    Present address: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, 305-0047, Ibaraki, Japan

    J. Buha (Postgraduate Student, JSPS Fellow)

  2. Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 3169, Clayton South MDC, VIC, Australia

    R. N. Lumley (Research Scientist)

  3. the School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, 2052, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    A. G. Crosky (Professor)

Authors
  1. J. Buha
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  2. R. N. Lumley
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  3. A. G. Crosky
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Buha, J., Lumley, R.N. & Crosky, A.G. Microstructural development and mechanical properties of interrupted aged Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy. Metall Mater Trans A 37, 3119–3130 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-006-0192-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-006-0192-x

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