Experimental and theoretical investigation of the microstructural evolution in aluminium alloys during extrusion

Abstract

The purpose of this work is the investigation of the microstructural evolution in aluminium alloys during extrusion at high temperature and subsequent cooling. In particular, the alloy EN AW-6060 of the 6000 series (Al-Mg-Si) is examined here. Subject to such process conditions, the microstructural development in this high stacking-fault material is controlled mainly by dynamic recovery during extrusion and static recrystallisation during cooling. To characterize this development in more detail, EBSD measurements are carried out on different parts of a partly extruded specimen. From this sample, microstructural images are generated and a statistical analysis is performed. Our initial simulation results of the microstructural development during this process show good qualitative agreement with the trends found experimentally via the EBSD investigation. © 2009 WIT Press.