Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
11 International Aluminium Symposium, İstanbul, Türkiye, 12 - 14 Ekim 2023, ss.287-292, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
The demand for aluminum and its alloys is increasing day by day due to properties such as low density, high specific strength, weldability, formability, corrosion resistance, and high recyclability. The ability to meet quality expectations at a low cost increases competition among manufacturers. The 6xxx series extrusion aluminum alloys are widely preferred today due to their medium-high strength and high formability properties. Extrusion products, including profiles, bars, and pipes, find applications in various industries such as construction, rail systems, automotive, aerospace, and defense. In the 6xxx series aluminum alloys group, artificial aging heat treatment is commonly used method to increase the material's strength. However, in aging aluminum alloys of the 6xxx series, there are losses in mechanical properties due to the extended natural aging period. Especially after prolonged natural aging, the desired strength values not achieved through artificial aging. While there are alternative solutions proposed to prevent the decrease in mechanical properties, resolving the issue without altering the material's physical and chemical properties is critical in terms of satisfy expectations such as cost and corrosion resistance. Therefore, in this study, changes in the material's heat treatment route made to improve mechanical properties. Within the scope of the thesis, various "stabilization" heat treatments applied before the artificial aging heat treatment to enhance the aging mechanism of the material, specifically aiming to prevent the strength reduction observed in the 6063 alloy. Thermal treatment recipes shaped by literature research applied to samples immediately after production and kept for varying periods. After the waiting times, the material properties of the artificially aged samples examined from both mechanical and microstructural perspectives. The investigation results revealed that different heat treatment temperatures and durations have an impact on mechanical properties. The highest yield and tensile strength values for the 6063 alloy achieved at stabilization temperatures between 120°C and 140°C and stabilization duration of 1.5 hours. It observed at that all samples subjected to stabilization heat treatment and kept for eight weeks samples showed improvement in mechanical properties as compared to unstabilized samples.