Effect of Solution Heating Rate on Quasi-static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Al-Mg-Si-Cu Alloy

The effect of solution heating rate on quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy in bake hardening state was investigated through mechanical properties, microstructure and fracture morphology characterization in the present study. The results show that solution heating rate has a strong influence on microstructure, quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties. As solution heating rate rises, the grain microstructure transforms from the elongated grains to equiaxed grains and the fraction of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) also decreases. Moreover, the equivalent average grain size first decreases, and then increases. The relationship between solution heating rate and mechanical property is monotonic, not depending on strain rate. As solution heating rate rises, the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation decrease. In contrast to quasi-static loading, dynamic loading always tends to improve strengths and elongation. In addition, compared with the quasi-static tensile specimens, the dynamic tensile specimens possess a larger number of dislocations. Regardless of strain rate and solution heating rate, all the tensile specimens exhibit the ductile fracture mode. As solution rate rises, the dimples decrease and become shallow gradually. The dimples in dynamic fracture zone are larger and deeper than those in the quasi-static fracture zone.