Mechanical properties and stress distribution in aluminium 6063 extrudates processed by equal channel angular extrusion technique

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of temperature and load on the mechanical properties and stress distribution in ECAE processed Al6063. Samples were extruded at temperatures of 350, 425 and 500 under applied loads of 1000, 1100 and 1200 kN and ram speed of 5 mm/s. Hardness and tensile strength of all the extrudates were measured with Rockwell hardness tester and universal testing machine, respectively. Stress distribution in the extrudates was simulated with qform software under different extended applied loads and temperatures. Experimental results showed that billet temperature influenced tensile strength and hardness more significantly than applied load. The grains in the extrudates also became more refined as billet temperature increased. Simulation results indicated that more uniform stress distribution with lower magnitude was observed in the extrudates with increased billet temperature. The hardness and tensile strength of the extrudates as revealed through the uniform stress distribution were enhanced.