Effect of Processing Parameters on Tensile Properties of Hot-Drawn Al 2011-T8

Abstract

Despite the wide-spread industrial use of drawn Al 2011 products, only an extremely limited number of studies are available on the effect of drawing parameters on the tensile behavior. In this study, the microstructural evolution and the tensile behavior of Al 2011-T8 specimens were studied with drawing ratios varying from 10 % to 40 % at different drawing temperatures of 350, 400 degrees C and 450 degrees C, respectively. Only a marginal change in the tensile properties of Al 2011-T8 was observed, despite the significant change in grain size ranging from 33 mu m to 243 mu m with different drawing parameters. Detailed fractographic examination suggested that low-melting, soft Pb-Bi globules greatly influenced the tensile behavior of Al 2011-T8, surpassing the effect of grain size. Based on the fractographic and micrographic observations, the tensile behavior of hot-drawn Al 2011-T8 specimens is discussed in conjunction with the effects of different drawing ratios and temperatures.