Investigation of the Portevin-Le Chatelier Effect in AlMgSi-Tailored Heat Treated Blanks

Abstract

The dissolution of co-clusters in AlMgSi-alloys by a short term heat treatment can be used to locally adjust the mechanical properties of a blank for a following forming operation. This approach is known as Tailored Heat Treated Blanks (THTB) and allows to significant enhance the forming limits of AlMgSi-alloys. However, the dissolution of co-clusters leads to the observation of the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect during deformation. The results are stretcher strain marks at the surface which are a limitation for potential applications of THTB. In contrast to AlMg-alloys, a critical strain rate above which no PLC effect occurs is not observed for the investigated alloys. This paper investigates various influence factors on the occurrence of the PLC effect for different AlMgSi-alloys and presents an approach under which conditions THTB can be used in applications with high demand on surface quality.