Abstract
The influence of T6 heat treatment on the microstructure, hardness and tensile properties of cast AA6063 aluminum alloy was investigated as a function of squeeze casting pressure. The specimens elaborated were solution treated at 500°C for 8 hours and then were subjected to aging at 140°C. Various test techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, tensile tests, and hardness were used to examine the effect of this alloy produced by the gravity and squeeze casting processes. The experimental results showed that Mg2Si and Al15Si2(FeMn)3 were the primary particles observed in the α-Al matrix. The effect of precipitation on the mechanical properties was investigated. The changes in mechanical properties were correlated with changes in microstructure evolution and Mg–Si precipitation. Furthermore, hardness and tensile properties increased with both heat treatment and squeeze pressure.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
S. Karabay, M. Zeren, and M. Yilmaz, “Investigation of extrusion ratio effect on mechanical behaviour of extruded alloy AA-6101 from the billets homogenised-rapid quenched and as-cast conditions,” J. Mater. Process. Technol. 160, 138–147 (2004).
J. F. Su, X. Nie, and V. Stoilov, “Characterization of fracture and debonding of Si particles in AlSi alloys,” Mater. Sci. Eng., A 527, 7168–7175 (2010).
S. O. Adeosun, “Stress variation in cup forming,” Ph.D. Dissertation (Lagos, 2006).
N. C. W. Kuijpers, W. H. Kool, P. T. G. Koenis, K. E. Nilsen, I. Todd, and S. van der Zwaag, “Assessment of diffrent techniques for quantification of α‑Al(FeMn)Si and β-AlFeSi intermetallics in AA 6xxx alloys,” Mater. Charact. 49, 409–420 (2003).
G. Sha, K. O' Reilly, B. Cantor, J. Worth, and R. Hamerton, “Growth related metastable phase selection in a 6xxx series wrought Al alloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng., A 304–306, 612–616 (2001).
L. Lasa and J. M. Rodriques-Ibade, “Wear behaviour of eutectic and hypereutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg casting alloys tested against a composite brake pad,” Mater. Sci. Eng., A 363, 193–202 (2003).
A. K. Gupta, D. J. Lloyd, and S. A. Court, “Precipitation hardening in Al–Mg–Si alloys with and without excess Si,” Mater. Sci. Eng., A 316, 11–17 (2001).
S. O. Adeosun, S. A. Balogun, O. I. Sekunowo, and M. A. Usman, “Effects of heat treatment on strength and ductility of rolled and forged aluminum 6063 alloy,” J. Miner. Mater. Charact. Eng. 9, 763–773 (2010).
G. Mrówka-Nowotnik and J. Sieniawski, “Influence of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 6005 and 6082 aluminum alloys,” J. Mater. Process. Technol. 162–163, 367–372 (2005).
H. Zhao, H. Bai, J. Wang, and S. Guan, “Preparation of Al–Ti–C–Sr master alloys and their refining efficiency on A356 alloy,” Mater. Charact. 60, 377–383 (2009).
Z. Muzaffer, K. Erdem, and G. Serap, “Influence of Cu addition on microstructure and hardness of near-eutectic Al–Si–xCu-alloys,” Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 21, 1698–1702 (2011).
G. Mrówka-Nowotnik and J. Sieniawski, “Microstructure and mechanical properties of C355.0 cast aluminum alloy,” Arch. Comput. Mater. Sci. Surf. Eng. 47, 85–94 (2011).
D. L. Zhang, L. H. Zheng, and D. H. StJohn, “Effect of a short solution treatment time on microstructure and mechanical properties of modified Al–7 wt % Si–0.3 wt % Mg alloy,” J. Light Met. 2, 27–36 (2002).
S. Souissi, M. Ben Amar, and C. Bradai, “Experimental investigation on microstructure and mechanical properties of direct squeeze cast Al–13% Si alloy,” Strength Mater. 44, 337–345 (2012).
S. Souissi, M. Ben Amar, and C. Bradai, “Microstructure characterization and tensile properties of direct squeeze cast and gravity die cast 2017A wrought Al alloy,” Int. J. Mater. Forming 6, 249–254 (2013).
H. Barhoumi, S. Souissi, M. Ben Amar, and F. Elhalouani, “Influence of heat treatment on the microstructures and mechanical properties of squeeze cast AlSi9Cu3 alloys,” Int. J. Microstruct. Mater. Prop. 10, 472–487 (2015).
H. Barhoumi, S. Souissi, M. Ben Amar, and F. Elhalouani, “Investigation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of squeeze cast Al–11%Si alloy heat treated,” Kovove Mater. 54, 249–256 (2016).
G. A. Chadwick and T. M. Yue, “Principles and applications of squeeze castings,” Met. Mater. 5, 6–12 (1989).
J. H. Lee, H. S. Kim, C. W. Won, and B. Cantor, “Effect of the gap distance on the cooling behavior and the microstructure of indirect squeeze cast and gravity die cast 5083 wrought Al alloy,” Mater. Sci. Eng., A 338, 182–190 (2002).
G. H. Bray, M. Glazov, R. J. Rioja, and R. P. Gangloff, “Effect of artificial aging on the fatigue crack propagation resistance of 2000 series aluminum alloys,” Int. J. Fatigue 23, 265–276 (2001).
M. Gavgali, Y. Totik, and R. Sadeler, “The effects of artificial aging on wear properties of AA 6063 alloy,” Mater. Lett. 57, 3713–3721 (2003).
G. A. Edwards, K. Stiller, G. L. Dunlop, and M. J. Couper, “The precipitation sequence in Al–Mg–Si alloys,” Acta. Mater. 46, 3893–3904 (1998).
G. Ran, J. E. Zhou, and Q. G. Wang, “Precipitates and tensile fracture mechanism in a sand cast A356 aluminum alloy,” J. Mater. Process. Technol. 207, 46–52 (2008).
H. Yuan-chun, Y. Xu-yu, and Q. Tao, “Microstructure and mechanical properties of cryo-rolled AA6061 Al alloy,” Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China. 26, 12–18 (2016).
T. Kai, D. Qiang, and L. Yanjun, “Modelling microstructure evolution during casting, homogenization and ageing heat treatment of Al–Mg–Si–Cu–Fe–Mn alloys,” CALPHAD: Comput. Coupling Phase Diagrams Thermochem. 63, 164–184 (2018).
L. Zedi, L. Chong, L. Yongchang, Y. Liming, G. Qianying, and L. Huijun, “Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical property of Al–10% Mg2Si alloy,” J. Alloys Compd. 663, 16–19 (2016).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Souissi, S., Barhoumi, H., M. ben Amar et al. Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of the T6 Heat Treated AA6063 Alloy Produced by Squeeze Casting. Phys. Metals Metallogr. 120, 806–812 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X19080167
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031918X19080167