Right after solution heat treat. 1

[rctong]

I've read in literature that immediately after quenching 6061 aluminum (when solution heat treating but before aging) the workpiece is soft and ductile. Is this true? Does that mean you can form it without concern of fracture?

Thanks
R

 

[berkshire]

This is the AQ condition, it is an unstable condition, and any work to be done must be done as quickly as possible.
The short answer is Yes, you can form it, with less concern of fracture.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[TVP]

rctong,

The following link shows the change in hardness of 6061 as at ages at 25 C. As you can see, the hardness steadily increases, meaning that the elongation decreases. If you can form the piece quickly (within ~ 2 hours), then it is possible, but as berkshire noted, it will be unstable, with less consistency than when forming a properly annealed sample.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=6061...w=195&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:90