Mechanical properties evaluation for heat treated aluminium alloy 6061

Abstract

Aluminum is a widely known alloy for its unique properties, such as low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent formability, and good thermal and electrical conductivity, aluminium alloys are widely used in a variety of applications like in aerospace, automotive, construction, and Consumer electronics etc. Heat treatment is a widely accepted method for altering the microstructure of metals and alloys without changing the product form, thereby improving mechanical properties. The main objective of this study is to evaluate different mechanical properties of aluminium alloy 6061 subjected to heat treatment process. In this study two heat process adopted annealing and age hardening. Two different parameters studied in age hardening first heating specimen to 530⁰C for 6 hours, followed by water quenching in room temperature for 72 hours, then reheating at 150⁰C for 2 hours. second heating specimen to 530⁰C for 6 hours, followed by water quenching in room temperature for 72 hours, then reheating at 200⁰C for 2 hours. The results age hardening has better hardness compared to non-heat treated alloy and annealed alloy, in age hardening at 200⁰C has highest hardness number, which reveals that hardness increases with increasing temperature for quenched heat treatment process. The mechanical properties of age hardening are superior to those of annealing. Energy absorption was low for age hardening at 200⁰C. The tensile test results ultimate tensile strength is predominating in alloy subjected to age hardening compared to non-heat treatment.