Effect of prior cold work on tensile properties of Al-6Mg alloy with minor scandium additions

Effect of aging on the mechanical properties of cold worked Al-6Mg alloy with minor additions of scandium is studied. Cast and mechanically worked samples are isochronally aged for 60 min at different temperatures up to 500 degrees C. Evaluation of mechanical properties of the aged alloys is done at various strain rates of testing. The m-values (strain rate sensitivity) of the experimental alloys are desired from the tensile test results. The influence of scandium is much pronounced on yield strength than on the tensile strength. Alloys with higher scandium content have shown higher yield strength. The `m' values are found to be comparatively high at peak aged condition of alloy with higher scandium content. The fracture of the experimental alloys occurs through microvoid coalescence.