The Influences of Deformation Mode and Heat Treatment on Post-Formed Tensile Properties of 6009 Aluminum Sheet

This study looked at the effects of cold deformation, sample orientation, and artificial aging (paint cure simulation) after forming on the tensile properties of 6009 aluminum sheet of two thicknesses, 0.035 in (0.889 mm) and 0.071 in (1.80 mm). Three modes of deformation were imposed; cold rolling, simple tension, and die compression.

Test results indicated that the post-formed tensile properties were strongly influenced by deformation mode, sample orientation, sheet thickness, and artificial aging. Die compression produced tensile strengths of 67± 4 ksi (462± 28 MPa); by contrast cold rolled samples tested parallel to the rolling direction had tensile strengths of 31± 3 ksi (213± 21 MPa). Artificial aging increased strength in all deformation modes and exacerbated the deformation mode anisotropy of strength values.