The Effect of Plastic Deformation and Magnesium Content on the Mechanical Properties of 6063 Aluminium Alloys

Abstract

In order to determine the effect of increased magnesium addition on the strengthening behaviour during deformation, four types of aluminium alloys were cast and rolled. The cast aluminium alloys contain; 0.451%Mg, 0.551%Mg, 0.651%Mg, and 0.751%Mg in addition to the other elements which are constant. Deformation was carried out at 20% and 40%. The hot worked profiles were machined into tensile test specimen and were subjected to tensile test. The result was used to determine the ultimate tensile strength and the percentage elongation. From the results, it was observed that the tensile properties of the aluminium alloys improved with increase in percentage deformation and magnesium content up to 0.651%Mg. This shows the effect of deformation on grain refinement. At high percentage of deformation and increased magnesium content, the grains are more refined and this improves the strength and the mechanical properties. However, at 0.751%Mg, a decrease in the tensile properties was observed as deformation is no more effective. The result shows that there is a limit to the amount of magnesium content that will give the optimum mechanical properties.