Deformation mechanism and forming properties of 6061 Al alloys during compression in semi-solid state

The 6061 semi-solid aluminium alloy feedstocks prepared by near-liquidus casting were compressed in semi-solid state by means of Gleeble-3500 thermal-mechanical simulator. The relationship between the true stress and the true strain at different temperatures and strain rates was studied with the deformation degree of 70%. The microstructures during the deformation process were characterized. The deformation mechanism and thixo-forming properties of the semi-solid alloys were analyzed. The results show that the homogeneous and non-dendrite microstructures of semi-solid 6061Al alloy manufactured by near-liquidus casting technology could be transformed into semi-solid state with the microstructure suitable for thixo-forming which are composed of near-spherical grains and liquid phase with eutectic composition through reheating process. The deformation temperature and strain rate affect the peak stress significantly rather than steady flow stress. The resistance to deformation in semi-solid state decreases with the increase of the deformation temperature and decrease of the strain rate. At steady thixotropic deformation stage, the thixotropic property is uniform, and the main deformation mechanism is the rotating or sliding between the solid particles and the plastic deformation of the solid particles.