P. K. Chaudhury, G. Regalado, General Dynamics, Garland, TX
Heat treatment of Aluminum Alloy 6061 after severe plastic deformation was investigated. Industrially useful size, 4 inch x 4 inch, billets of AA 6061 were severely deformed by Equal Channel Angle Pressing (ECAP) process through a 105 degree angle die to produce ultrafine grain material of the order of 0.5 micron grain size after 4 passes. The starting materials were either in solutionized (W) condition or in annealed (O) condition and passed through the die after rotating the billet by 90 degrees between passes (Bc processing route). Hardness, conductivity, and tensile properties were measured after each pass and after aging treatments at various temperatures and for different times. The results show a marked difference between the starting material and the severely deformed and ultrafine grain material. The results of this investigation will be presented in the light of enhanced properties and processing cost savings for industrial application of SPD material.
Summary: Heat treatment of Aluminum Alloy 6061 after severe plastic deformation was investigated. The results show a marked difference between the starting material and the severely deformed and ultrafine grain material. The results of this investigation will be presented in the light of enhanced properties and processing cost savings for industrial application of SPD material.