Effects of different tempers on precipitation hardening of 6000 series aluminium alloys

By means of Vickers hardness, mechanical property and formability tests, the effects of different tempers on precipitation hardening of 6000 series aluminium alloys for automotive body sheets were investigated. The results indicate that the short-time pre-aging at 170 °C makes for subsequent artificial aging precipitation hardening. With the increase of pre-aging time, the artificial aging hardenability increases. The aging hardening rate reaches the maximum when pre-aging time is up to 10 min. and then it decreases. The short-time pre-aging at 170 °C benefits sheets to obtain lower strength under delivery condition and consequently to improve stamping formability of automotive body sheets. The effects of different tempers on precipitation hardening are much more obvious than those of the alloying elements. It is a good treatment schedule to perform pre-aging for 5 min at 170 °C right after solution treatment.