Microstructure Evolution of 6061 Aluminum Alloy Sheet Produced by CARB and Subsequent Aging Treatment
摘要
In this study, an ultrafine-grained 6061 alloy sheet was fabricated through cross accumulative roll bonding (CARB) and subsequent aging treatment. As the number of passes increases, the dislocation density rises, and the maximum density of the Brass {110}〈112〉 component also increases. Moreover, the grains are gradually refined. These phenomena are beneficial for enhancing the strength of the 6061 alloy sheet. After undergoing peak aging at 100 °C for 26 h, the tensile strength of the CARB specimen is further elevated to 464 MPa, accompanied by a slight decrease in elongation. The strength increment of the specimen aged at 100 °C can be attributed to the formation of nano-precipitated phases. In contrast, for specimens aged at higher temperatures, the significant decline in both strength and elongation is predominantly caused by the coarsening of the grain size. This clearly indicates that the aging temperature exerts a crucial influence on the mechanical properties of the CARB-processed 6061 alloy sheet, with the formation of nano-precipitates at lower temperatures enhancing strength and grain coarsening at higher temperatures deteriorating both strength and ductility.