Mechanical Properties of Co-Extruded Aluminium-Steel Compounds

Abstract

Within the scope of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1153 novel process chains for the production of hybrid solid components by Tailored Forming are developed at the Leibniz Universität Hannover. The combination of e. g. aluminium with steel allows to produce hybrid compounds with wear-resistant functional surfaces and reduced weight. In these process chains, joining takes place as the first step to produce hybrid semi-finished products by friction welding, cladding, ultrasonic assisted laser welding or co-extrusion, which are subsequently subjected to various forming processes such as forging or impact extrusion. The coaxially joined hybrid semi-finished components investigated in this work were produced by means of the lateral angular co-extrusion (LACE) process using the aluminium alloy EN AW-6082 and the case-hardening steel 20MnCr5. These semi-finished products shall be suited to produce hybrid bearing bushings by die forging in a subsequent process step. Initial investigations for the determination of the process parameters and the appropriate tool geometry were made using a steel rod. In future investigations, a steel tube will replace the steel rod in order to produce hybrid semi-finished products, which can be fully integrated into the process chain. The mechanical properties of the profile were determined at different positions along its length. For this purpose, the quality of the joining zone between aluminium and steel as a function of the profile position was examined by means of push-out tests. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the aluminium component’s longitudinal weld seam were determined by micro-tensile-tests.