Application of the hot stamping process to aluminum alloy structural components

Abstract

It has long been accepted that one primary way to achieve vehicle lightweighting is to incorporate aluminum alloys wherever possible. As such, panel-type components have since been produced using these alloys. Structural components, however, still present a challenge for the aluminum hot forming field. In order to help bridge this knowledge gap, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) explored the applicability of subjecting two heat-treatable aluminum alloys, namely a medium strength 6082 and a high strength 7021, to a rapid hot forming process, notably hot stamping, in order to simultaneously form and quench a part destined for structural applications. A full-scale structural part was hot stamped in ~30 s, which is in very good agreement with the time constraints reported in the literature. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to optimize blank soaking conditions. Finally, artificial aging tests were carried out to restore the T6-temper strength of the initial as-received sheet.