Thermal analysis of 6061 wrought aluminium alloy using cooling curve analysis-computer aided (CCA-CA) method

Abstract

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of different cooling rates on microstructure and solidification parameters of 6061 wrought aluminium alloy. Wrought Al6061 were heated and melted at temperature of 800°C in a graphite crucible. A thermocouple was placed at the centre of molten under different conditions. Solidification characteristics are recognized from cooling curve and its first derivative curves which have been plotted using thermal analysis technique. In this study, molten were solidify in different airflow conditions. The results of thermal analysis show that the characteristics of Al6061 are influenced by cooling rate. The cooling rates in this experiment ranged from 1.3 to 2.4 °C/s and increasing the cooling rate affects the solidification parameters. Images of microstructures were taken to present its relation with cooling rates.