Effect of Precipitation Hardening on the Structure and Properties of Al-Mg-Si Conductor Alloys in Different Technological Routes

Abstract

The Al-Mg-Si alloys, due to their unique combination of lightweight, mechanical and electrical properties and excellent corrosion resistance, are used as a material for the production of overhead power conductors, commonly known as AAAC (All Aluminium Alloy Conductor). Wires intended for conductor manufacturing are obtained from the wire rod produced by a continuous casting and rolling line (CCR, e.g., Continuus-Properzi). The Al-Mg-Si wire rod can be processed into ready-made wires by different technological routes, which mainly consist of different combinations of strain hardening as well as precipitation hardening of wire rod or wires. In Europe the conventional technological route comprises solution heat treatment of wire rod coils (heated at temperatures over ~500 °C, followed by quenching into water), then natural ageing of wire rod at ambient temperature for a couple of days, next wire drawing, and finally artificial ageing.This paper discusses results of investigations on developing an alternative technological route. In this process heat from the continuous casting and rolling process by Continuus-Properzi is used for heat treatment of the wire rod. The new technological route allows the abandonment of the high temperature heat treatment as well as natural ageing of the wire rod, making the production process less energy consuming, cheaper and faster than the conventional one. The current paper presents research results identifying the structure of materials from different Al-Mg-Si wires production process routes. It also focuses on electrical and mechanical properties.