The effects of homogenization and recrystallization heat treatments on low-grade cold deformation properties of AA 6063 aluminum alloy

In this study, the effect of cooling rate during homogenization treatment of AA 6063 aluminum alloy on the low-grade cold deformation–recrystallization properties has been investigated. For this purpose tapered tensile test specimens (one side 10 mm width and the other side 18 mm) were prepared from the material taken from billet produced by semi-continuous casting method. These specimens were homogenized at 560 °C for 6 h and cooled down at five different rates. Each group has three specimens. These specimens were then tensile tested to obtain deformation gradient and annealed at 450 °C, 500 °C, and 550 °C for 1 h. Following these treatments specimens were subjected to metallographic examination.Experimental findings have shown that an increase in cooling rate caused an increase in critical strain and a decrease in maximum grain size. Metallographic observations revealed that the particle size, interparticle spacing and volume fraction of particles are directly related to cooling rate during homogenization treatment and cooling rate decreases them.