Formability and Microstructure of 6061T6 Aluminum Alloy by Flow Friction Extrusion
Zhang Yanling Han Yujie Cha Suna Hou Hongliang Wang Yaoqi
AVIC Manufacturing Technology Institute
Aeronautical Key Laboratory for Plastic Forming Technology
Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Forming Technology and Equipment
Abstract:
The effects of tool head rotation rate(ω),reduction amount(?l),downlink speed(v)and tool head diameter(D)on the formability of 6061 T6 aluminum alloy were studied by experiments on single point flow friction extrusion forming. The optimum forming parameters were obtained as follows:D=20 mm,ω=950 r·min-1,v=0.6 mm·min-1,?l=3.0 mm,under which the maximum forming height was 15 mm. The microstructures of different deformation zone were studied by optical microscope(OM)and electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD),and the results showed that the samples formed by single point flow friction extrusion were composed of two parts:heat affected zone(HAZ)and deformation zone(DZ). Compared with the parent material,the grain size and morphology of HAZ did not change significantly. The average grain size was 26.5 μm. The structure distribution in DZ was not uniform,and the material in II(A)zone stirred three-dimensional under tool head,the structure refinement was not obvious,the average grain size was 23.8μm,and the large angle boundaries ratio was 45.1%. The fine equiaxed structure was formed in the II(B)region under the combined stirring and extrusion force,and the average grain size was only 6.54 μm. The corner of concave die(II(C)zone)had the smallest structure with average grain size of only 3.75 μm. The proportion of large angle grain boundaries in the region increased significantly to81.8%. Dynamic recrystallization occurred during deformation and stable recrystallization structure was formed.
单点流动摩擦近净成形试验原理如图1(a)所示,成形过程中工具头旋转下行与板料接触,在摩擦热作用下局部金属发生塑化,工具头端面的凹槽对塑化的金属施以拘束、驱动作用,使塑化的材料在空间范围内发生定向塑性流动,在搅拌力和挤压力复合作用下,变形区材料均匀填充到模具型腔内。图1(b)为本实验采用的工具头端面形貌,端面凹槽形状为渐开线式,渐开线条数为3条,凹槽深0.5 mm。图1(c)为单点流动摩擦挤压成形模具,模具型面为直径d=8 mm通孔,利用材料在通孔内的成形高度来判断特定条件下材料的流动性和成形极限。通过单因素轮换试验,研究工具头的转速ω(750,950,1180 r·min-1)、下压速度v(0.6,1.0,2.0,4.0 mm·min-1)、下压量?l(1.0,2.0,3.0mm)和工具头直径D(10,15,20 mm)对流动摩擦挤压成形性能的影响规律,获得最佳的成形工艺参数。使用Olympus BX41M光学显微镜观察流动摩擦挤压成形后材料的微观组织,金相腐蚀剂选用Keller试剂,成分为2.5 ml HNO3,1.5 ml HCl,1.0 ml HF。将成形后样品进行机械磨光和电解抛光,制样后置于场发射扫描电子显微镜上,利用背散射电子探头进行表征及EBSD系统进行标定,分析流动摩擦挤压成形后不同区域材料的晶粒形态和尺寸分布、晶界形态及晶界取向角分布,从而进一步分析流动摩擦挤压成形过程中材料的组织演变规律及变形机制。
图1 单点流动摩擦挤压成形原理
Fig.1 Principle of single point flow friction forming
(a)Forming principle diagram;(b)Shape of machining head;(c)Forming mould
Fig.11 Grain boundaries map and the misorientation angles distribution of different deformation zone
(a)Grain boundaries map of ZoneⅡ(A);(b)Grain boundaries map of ZoneⅡ(B);(c)Grain boundaries map of ZoneⅡ(C);(d)misorientation angles distribution of ZoneⅡ(A);(e)misorientation angles distribution of ZoneⅡ(B);(f)misorientation angles dis-tribution of ZoneⅡ(C)