What Grade / Temper of Aluminum To Use

[MSABOL314]

I have a cylindrical shaped part designed. The design criteria is reduced weight, increased wear resistance on the OD, and strength is not a concern. The dimensions of that part are:

OD = 4.764" +/- .005" , .001" cylindricity
ID = 4.302" +.001"/-.000" , .001" total runout to the OD
Length = 5.079" +/- .005"

The part will be electroless nickel plated, and then heat treated to increase the hardness of the nickel plating at 450 deg F for 4 hours.

My concern is that after the heat treatment the part will not be in spec (dimensionally and in form) if I shoot blindly and just use 6061-T6 Aluminum.

Ideally, I'd like to learn how to asses this problem, and be able to determine a suitable material.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[EdStainless]

You really want to thermal cycle a piece of Al with Ni-P.
What P level? Do you care how magnetic it is?
Every type of NiP that I know uses a HT of 375-400C for 1hr.
I did find aging curves that show a response at 250C, at 35-40 WEEKS.
Wouldn't you be better off using a low P and no HT?
How are you building the cylinder? Roll and weld?
I would suggest that you rough machine and then thermal cycle, beyond the service range a few times.
And then final machine. And good luck machining something this thin and flexible to those tolerances.
Will this have solid ends in it? This will be a very flexible item.

But let's back up, what is this made from now that is too heavy?
There might be some other options.

https://www.nickelinstitute.org/media/1769/propertiesandapplicationsofelectrolessnickel_10081_.pdf

https://industrial.macdermidenthone.com/products-and-applications/electroless-nickel/properties

https://advancedplatingtech.com/wp-...lectroless-Nickel-Plating-R-Weil-K-Parker.pdf

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P.E. Metallurgy

 

[MSABOL314]

The spec was for chrome plating, but Ni-P will be a less complex process for this component. In order to get a similar hardness, the Ni-P would need to be heat treated. Initially I was quoted high P level Ni-P, but low P level Ni-P will yield higher hardness. Maybe this hardness will be sufficient.

No solid ends. This is a new design. The design criteria is to minimize the rotational inertia.

Thank you for the links.

 

[Tmoose]

I personally would not put many eggs in the "harder is more wear resistant" basket.

Especially armed with the info provided so far.

 

[MSABOL314]

Your point isn't clear, but yes, harder doesn't not necessarily mean more wear resistant.