Research on the Mechanical Properties of Al6061 Intermetallic Compounds Solubility as Manufactured by Spray Casting

Abstract

Al6061 alloys are well known as extrusion materials for automobile parts, aircraft. Recently, increasing demands of the lightweight for vehicles, materials have replaced steel are developed. Aluminum alloys are increasingly used as structural materials but in terms of mechanical properties, it is not a completed as a replacement for steel. The purpose of this study was to improve the mechanical properties and minimize the grain sizes of Al6061 matrix alloys for structural materials as produced by spray casting. Al6061 alloys were melted with 800°C in electrical resistance furnace. In order to form equilibrium concentration of Mg2Si (about 2 times) for Al6061, increased Mg and Si were added to Al6061 alloys and then preforms were prepared with molten metal by spray casting. The Specimens were fabricated by solution heat treatment and T6 age hardening. As a result of analyzing microstructure observations and mechanical properties according to supersaturated solid solution of Mg2Si for the final sample obtained, there were no changes in the size of the precipitates but precipitates per unit area were found to increase the area during the heat treatment processes. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength of over 80MPa and hardness of over 10HRB in spray casting have been increased according to solubility of Mg2Si.