Aging of aluminum alloys of the Al-Mg-Si system under the action of a cyclically changing temperature

Abstract

1. Thermal cycling treatment leads to more dispersed precipitation of hardening phases in comparison with artificial aging of the same length as the thermal cycling treatment. 2. The level of properties after thermal cycling treatment depends little upon the intensity of the thermal cycles. 3. Thermal cycling treatment of wrought alloys of the Al-Mg-Si system increases their toughness and plastic properties (by 1.5–2.0 times) while the strength characteristics are somewhat lower than after T1 treatment. 4. The cycles of mechanical-thermal cycling treatment including hardening, cold plastic deformation in the freshly hardened condition, and thermal cycling treatment make it possible to obtain high strength and electrical conductivity, the level of which depends upon the degree of deformation, the parameters of the thermal cycles, and the hold time at the maximum thermal cycle temperature. 5. Low-temperature thermal cycling treatment including hardening and repeated deformation with thermal cycles in the intervals between passes is promising for treatment of aluminum alloys.