Effect of Artificial Aging and Cooling Rate on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AA6082

Abstract

In this study, the change of microstructure and mechanical properties of 6082 aluminium alloy as a result of heat treatment was examined. Materials selected as heat treatment are first annealed at 450 °C for 2 hours, so the residual stresses are eliminated and the grain structure is homogenized. Afterwards, the annealed samples were cooled in 3 different environments (by waiting in the oven, by air in the room environment, and in water in the room environment) and the effect of these environments was studied. In addition, by applying artificial aging specimens were prepared under four different conditions, and mechanical properties were examined by performing hardness and compression tests for these four different conditions, and microstructural properties were examined with the help of an optical microscope. As a result, the effects of post-annealing cooling rate and artificial aging on the material were determined and the connection between microstructural changes and mechanical properties was discussed in the context of the results obtained. Depending on the cooling rate and artificial aging, different grain structures and secondary phase precipitates were determined for each case in the microstructure examinations. In connection with this situation, the increase in the mechanical properties was observed with the increase of the cooling rate, and the highest increase was seen in the aged material.