Impact of plastic deformation on the properties of a selected aluminium alloy

Abstract

This paper reports on an experiment to assess the influence of plastic deformation on the microstructure and properties of EN AW 6012 (AlMgSiPb) aluminium alloy in two states. The first was the initial state with heat treatment T3, and the second was the state after intensive plastic deformation by ECAP (Equal Channel Angular Pressing) technology. The ECAP process was carried out repeatedly at room temperature. In the initial state of the alloy, the process redistributed eutectic Si-particles and increased the strength of the alloy. The mechanical properties and the hardness increased due to intensive plastic deformation (the yield strength increased by 15 %, the tensile strength by 6 %, and the hardness by 23 %). The fracture cracks initiated and propagated mainly along eutectic particles. The fracture area of the ECAPed specimen displayed a typical ductile cavity characteristic.