Positron Annihilation & Micro-Hardness Measurement of 6063 and 6066 with Compromise with Ingot Al

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the resistance of this type of alloy to quenching. Hardness measurements can be defined as macro-, micro- or nano- scale, according to the forces applied and the displacements obtained. This effect can also be studied using a nuclear, (PALT): positron annihilation lifetime, technique [1]. Microhardness is the hardness of a material, as determined by forcing an indenter such as a Vickers or Knoop indenter into the surface of the material under a 15 to 1000gf load; the indentations are usually so small that they must be measured using a microscope. These samples were quenched at different temperatures ranging from 50 to 500oC. We studied the effect of the quenching temperature upon the hardness measurements. We also studied this variation via the positron annihilation (lifetime) parameter. It is clear from the Vickers hardness that 1050 has the lowest value of Hv, while 6063 is higher and 6066 has the highest values of Hv. Also we could observe ( recognize) that the Hv (number) is reduce as a function of temperature (6066) but for (1050) and (6063) there is no observation of a variation in Hv (number) as a function of quenching temperature. The same observation was also made for 1050, 6063 and 6066 via the lifetime measurements. Here, 6063, 6066 give higher values than 1050. It is clear that the data from both techniques (positron annihilation lifetime and Vickers hardness) for 1050 ingot Al gives lower values of both parameters for Hv and lifetime technique. While Hv for 6066 is higher than the values of 6063 alloy at the same quenching temperature. Using the lifetime technique, one cannot distinguish between the 6063 and 6066 alloys. The applied force has no real effect upon the levels of the hardness values. Also, alloys 6066 and 6063 were defined as heat-treatable alloys but 1050 is not a heat-treatable alloy. The Hv of the 1050 is not affected by the changes in quenching temperature. Alloy 6066 heat-treatable alloy is more affected by the heat treatment than is 6063 alloy, and this is related to the structure of the precipitates in these alloys since 6066 alloy has much more Si and Mg than does the 6063 alloy. The Hv values vary from 14 to 23.9 for 6063 alloy and from 15.7 to 69.8 for 6066 alloy; in comparison with ingot alloy (1050) where it varies from 10.4 to 18.6.