Simultaneously enhancing the tensile properties and intergranular corrosion resistance of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloys by a thermo-mechanical treatment

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 617; pp. 165 - 174
• Main Authors: Li, Hai, Qingzhong, Mao, Wang, Zhixiu, Miao, Fenfen, Fang, Bijun, Song, Renguo, Zheng, Ziqiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 03.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum alloy; ALUMINUM ALLOYS (50 TO 99 AL); Aluminum base alloys; Applied sciences; Cold rolling; CORROSION; Corrosion mechanisms; Corrosion prevention; CORROSION PROTECTION; Corrosion resistance; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Elasticity. Plasticity; Exact sciences and technology; Intergranular corrosion; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Microstructure; MICROSTRUCTURES; Other heat and thermomechanical treatments; Physics; PROPERTIES; ROLLING; Tensile properties; Thermo-mechanical processing; Thermomechanical treatment; Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties; Mechanical properties; Thermo-mechanical processing; Microstructure; Intergranular corrosion; Aluminum alloy; Ultimate strength method; Ageing; Tensile property; Tensile strength; Cold rolling; Corrosion resistance; Yield strength; Elongation (mechanics); Thermomechanical treatment
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2014.08.045

A novel thermo-mechanical treatment consisting of conventional pre-aging, cold-rolling and re-aging was developed to enhance the tensile properties and intergranular corrosion resistance of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloys simultaneously. The thermo-mechanically treated 6061 Al sheets exhibit higher ultimate tensile strength and yield strength (being 466MPa and 451MPa) than those of the conventionally peak-aged alloys (being 365MPa and 347MPa), and meanwhile have no intergranular corrosion susceptibility and good elongation of 8.1%. Based on the microstructure evolution during the thermo-mechanical treatment, the factors that enhance the tensile properties and intergranular corrosion resistance of the treated sheets are discussed in detail.