USE OF THE ABI TECHNIQUE TO MEASURE THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS: EFFECT OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ALLOYS

The effects of the chemical composition on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated using automated ball-indentation tests, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. It was observed that the mechanical properties change with the presence of the eutectic and varying excess content of elements. In this work, the automated-ball-indentation (ABI) technique was compared with the standard mechanical tests. The ABI method is based on controlled multiple indentations into a polished surface by a spherical indenter under load. The indentation depth is progressively increased to the maximum, user-specified limit, with intermediate partial unloading. This technique allows to measure the yield strength, stress-strain curve, strength coefficient and strain-hardening exponent. For all these test materials and conditions, the ABI-derived results were in very good agreement with those obtained with the conventional, standard test methods.