The 40th International Conference on

Mechanics of Solids, Acoustics and Vibrations &

The 6th International Conference on
“Advanced Composite Materials Engineering”
ICMSAV2016& COMAT2016
Brasov, ROMANIA, 24-25 November 2016

EFFECTS OF THE HEAT TREATMENT ON THE MECHANICAL

PROPERTIES OF THE ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
Camelia Cerbu1, Horațiu Teodorescu-Draghicescu1
1
Transilvania University of Brașov, Brașov, ROMANIA, cerbu@unitbv.ro, draghicescu.teodorescu@unitbv.ro

Abstract: This paper aims to investigate the effects of the heat treatment on the mechanical properties in case of EN AW-
6060 aluminium alloy. Mechanical characteristics were measured in both the tensile test and the bending test. Although there
is standard [1] that indicate the mechanical properties of the aluminium alloy used to manufacture different kinds of profiles,
the main purpose of this paper consists in the accuracy comparing of the mechanical properties of the commercial aluminium
alloy EN AW-6060 used to manufacture box profiles, that is in T4 state or T6 state depending on the heat treatment. Finally,
it is shown that the maximum values  max of both the tensile stress and flexural stress are greater with 41.47% and with
75.47% respectively, in case of EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy than the values recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T4
aluminium alloy. There are small differences concerning the modulus of elasticity E recorded: 8.13% in case of Young’s
modulus E determinate in tensile test; 5.34% in case of the modulus of elasticity determinate in the bending test.
Keywords: aluminium alloy, tensile test, bending test, heat treatment.

1. INTRODUCTION

The main purpose of the present paper is to show the effects of the thermal treatment on the mechanical
properties of the EN AW 6060 AlMgSi aluminium alloy. The alloy EN AW-6060 AlMgSi is a widely used
extrusion alloy. It is recommended for applications such as the following: frame profiles for windows, doors,
curtain walls, fences, railings, stairs; frame systems for interior accessories; pneumatic equipment; irrigation
pipes; pipes for cooling.
There are British and European standards that give the mechanical properties in case of the extruded rod / bar,
tube and profiles made of aluminium alloys [1].
In order to show accuracy the effects of the thermal treatment on the EN AW 6060 AlMgSi aluminium alloy,
two kinds of this alloy are tested: EN AW-6060-T4 – aluminium alloy in T4 state; EN AW-6060-T6 –
aluminium alloy in T6 state. The T4 state corresponds to the naturally aged to a stable condition while T6 state
corresponds to the solution heat treated, quenched and artificially aged [2].

2. MATERIALS AND WORK METHOD

2.1. Materials

In accord with the European Standard SR-EN 573 – 3 / 2010 [3], EN AW 6060 aluminium alloy belongs to the
series of 6000 of the aluminium alloys AlMgSi (aluminium – magnesium – silicon). Chemical composition of
the aluminium alloy EN AW 6060 is: 0.30.6% Si; 0.10.3% Fe; 0.10% Cu; 0.350.60 % Mg; 0.05 % Cr;
0.15% Zn; 0.10 % Ti; 0.05 % other metallic components so as the sum doesn’t exceed 0.15 %; the difference is
covered by the aluminium [3]. According to [4] the EN AW 6060 aluminium alloy being in T4 or T6 state are
encoded as following: EN AW-6060-T4 or EN AW-6060-T6, respectively.
Tensile specimens (fig. 1, a and c) are manufactured according to European Standard EN ISO 6892-1: 2002 [5].
Flexural specimens (fig. 1, b and d) have 120 mm in length and the width of the rectangular cross-section is 15
mm. The thickness was equal with 3 mm in case of both kinds of specimens.
The both tensile specimens and flexural specimens are cut from the commercial profiles having box cross-
section, made of EN AW 6060 aluminium alloy having two different states (T4 and T6) from the heat treatment
point of view.

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 a. b. c. d.
Figure 1: Specimens for testing:
a, b - Tensile / flexural specimens made of aluminium alloy EN AW 6060 – T4; c, d - Tensile / flexural
specimens made of aluminium alloy EN AW 6060 – T6

2.2. Work method

In case of the tensile test it was used a tensile machine manufactured by LLOYD Instruments (West Sussex,
United Kingdom) whose maximum load capacity is ±50 kN. The speed of loading was 3mm/min according to
European Standard EN ISO 6892-1: 2002 [5]. An extensometer was used in order to record the elongation of the
specimen. The initial span between the marks in tensile test, was equal with 50 mm [5].
The LR5K Plus machine manufactured by LLOYD Instruments (West Sussex, United Kingdom) was used for
the bending test by using the method of the three-point. The maximum load capacity is ±15 kN. The flexural
specimen was simply supported at its ends during testing and the span between the supports was equal to 80mm.
The crosshead speed was 15 mm/min.

3. RESULTS

The stress-strain    curves recorded in tensile test are shown in the figure 2. It may be remarked that after the
yield point, the    curves corresponding to EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy are located above the   
curves corresponding to EN AW 6060 – T4 aluminium alloy. This remark shows that the maximum value of the
tensile stress  max is greater in case of EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy with respect to the other one alloy.
But the maximum strain  max recorded at maximum force Fmax is less in case of EN AW 6060 – T6
aluminium alloy with respect to the value recorded in case of the other one alloy.
250
EN AW 6060 - T4
EN AW 6060 - T6
Tensile stress s(MPa)

200

150

100

50

0
0,00 0,05 0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25
Strain e
Figure 2: Stress-strain     curve recorded in tensile test

The average values of the mechanical properties recorded in tensile test are shown in the Tables 1 and 2 in case
of both alloys tested. The average value of the Young’s modulus E is greater with 8.13% in case of EN AW 6060

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– T4 aluminium alloy E  58302.08MPa  than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium
alloy E  53918.88MPa  . The maximum value of the tensile stress  max is greater with 41.47% in case of EN
AW 6060 – T6  max  200.73 MPa  than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T4
 max  141.89 MPa  .
The maximum strain  max recorded at maximum force Fmax is greater with 118.55% in case of EN AW 6060
– T4  max  0.181555 than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T6  max  0.083074  . This is the
reason why the work done to maximum load is with 40.52% greater in case of the EN AW 6060 – T4 aluminium
alloy than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T6 alloy.

Table 1: Mechanical properties determinate in tensile test in case of EN AW 6060 – T4

No. of the Width Thickness Young's Load at Stress at Extension at Strain at Work to
tensile (mm) (mm) Modulus maximum maximum maximum maximum maximum
specimen (MPa) load load load load load
(N) (MPa) (mm) (Nmm)
1 10.03 3.00 64637.15 3688.81 122.59 9.307 0.186140 30110.30
2 10.02 3.00 49238.73 4253.46 141.50 8.576 0.171511 32164.39
3 10.04 2.98 60051.19 4364.01 145.86 7.961 0.159227 30701.43
4 10.03 2.97 69708.37 4233.04 142.10 9.855 0.197099 37372.48
5 10.03 2.97 68511.38 4196.00 140.86 9.321 0.186418 34841.45
6 10.04 3.00 41589.20 4429.20 147.05 8.751 0.175024 34607.50
7 10.02 2.98 69443.36 4276.93 143.23 9.874 0.197476 37968.98
8 10.02 3.00 35984.27 4308.33 143.32 9.940 0.198800 38553.21
9 10.02 2.96 66625.80 4480.03 151.05 8.561 0.171210 34146.66
10 10.03 2.96 57231.36 4194.89 141.30 8.632 0.172643 31924.46
Average
value 10.028 2.98 58302.08 4242.47 141.89 9.078 0.181555 34239.09

Table 2: Mechanical properties determinate in tensile test in case of EN AW 6060 – T6

No. of the Width Thickness Young's Load at Stress at Extension at Strain at Work to
tensile (mm) (mm) Modulus maximum maximum maximum maximum maximum
specimen (MPa) load (N) load (MPa) load (mm) load load (Nmm)
1 10.10 3.08 54394.17 6040.18 194.17 3.759 0.075189 21198.39
2 10.12 3.10 50549.08 6419.68 204.63 4.396 0.087926 26734.88
3 10.08 3.06 55698.82 6442.57 208.87 3.842 0.076846 23379.37
4 10.08 3.09 55274.66 6488.78 208.33 4.126 0.082517 25375.94
5 10.08 3.06 52199.15 6192.23 200.75 3.642 0.072848 21064.16
6 10.07 3.07 55148.00 5987.76 193.69 4.650 0.093008 26403.33
7 10.08 3.03 55699.08 6290.69 205.97 4.404 0.088074 26244.02
8 10.04 3.07 58854.75 6329.77 205.36 4.359 0.087180 26191.59
9 10.06 3.09 54328.95 6028.27 193.93 4.280 0.085592 24256.96
10 10.10 3.08 47042.15 5959.63 191.58 4.078 0.081565 22801.10
Average
10.08 3.07 53918.88 6217.95 200.73 4.154 0.083074 24364.97
value

The stress-strain    curves recorded in bending test are shown in the figure 3. The    curves are
graphically shown for the points located at the bottom of the critical cross-section of the flexural specimen
(cross-section located at midpoint of the span between supports). It may be observed that the slopes of the elastic
portions of    curves are greater in case of the EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy. The    curves
corresponding to EN AW 6060 – T6 are located above the curves corresponding to the aluminium alloy that is in
T4 state. It follows that both the modulus of elasticity E and the maximum flexural stress  max recorded in case
of EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy are greater with respect to the corresponding values recorded in case of
EN AW 6060 – T4 aluminium alloy.

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 400
EN AW 6060 - T4
350 EN AW 6060 - T6

Flexural stress s(MPa)

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
0,00 0,05 0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25
Strain e
Figure 3: Stress-strain     curve recorded in bending test by using the method of the three points

Table 3: Mechanical properties determinate in bending test in case of EN AW 6060 – T4

No. of Width Thickness Modulus of Maximum Maximum Maximum Work W
the (mm) (mm) elasticity in load bending bending to
flexural bending Fmax stress  max strain maximum
specimen E (N) at maximum  max at load
(MPa) load maximum (Nmm)
(MPa) load
1 14.99 3.03 24195.22 210.143918 183.24 0.080233 5071.71
2 14.97 3 25094.14 235.429404 209.69 0.080673 5832.21
3 14.98 2.98 28725.84 191.368795 172.63 0.077903 4535.12
4 14.96 3.02 26323.54 228.199728 200.70 0.074979 5227.51
5 14.97 3.03 24379.72 195.545438 170.73 0.091758 5467.38
6 14.97 3 24002.76 193.081071 171.97 0.091631 5430.80
7 15.03 3.01 23939.18 236.133947 208.09 0.091432 6581.14
Average
14.98 3.01 25237.20 212.84 188.15 0.084087 5449.41
value

Table 4: Mechanical properties determinate in bending test in case of EN AW 6060 – T6

No. of Widt Thickness Modulus Maximum Maximum Maximum Work W
the h (mm) of load bending bending to
flexural (mm) elasticity Fmax stress  max strain maximum
specimen in bending (N) at maximum  max at load
E load maximum (Nmm)
(MPa) (MPa) load
1 14.98 3.11 26281.84 349.03 289.07 0.054529 5531.22
2 15.01 3.12 26515.36 360.01 295.67 0.056681 5915.92
3 15.00 3.11 26303.42 381.58 315.61 0.055917 6164.08
4 15.00 3.11 26522.61 390.39 322.90 0.059204 6770.15
5 15.02 3.11 27389.23 406.20 335.53 0.062158 7459.88
6 14.98 3.11 26502.09 375.13 310.69 0.059510 6522.55
7 15.01 3.11 27355.80 326.97 270.27 0.059547 5715.15
8 14.97 3.11 25801.29 397.63 329.55 0.057807 6680.60
Average
15.00 3.11 26583.95 373.37 308.66 0.058169 6344.94
value

The average values of the mechanical properties recorded in tensile test are shown in the Tables 3 and 4 in case
of both alloys tested. The average value of the modulus of elasticity E is greater with 5.34% in case of EN AW

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6060 – T6 aluminium alloy E  26583.95MPa  than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T4
aluminium alloy E  25237.20 MPa  . The maximum value of the tensile stress  max is greater with 75.47% in
case of EN AW 6060 – T6  max  373.37 MPa  than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T4
 max  212.84 MPa  .
The maximum strain  max recorded at maximum force Fmax is greater with 44.56% in case of EN AW 6060 –
T4  max  0.084087  than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T6  max  0.058169  . But contrary,
the work done to maximum load is with 18.43% less in case of the EN AW 6060 – T4 aluminium alloy than the
value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T6 alloy.

4. CONCLUSION

It is remarked that that the mechanical properties recorded in case of the EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy are
generally greater than the values recorded in case of the EN AW 6060 – T4 aluminium alloy.
The maximum values  max of both the tensile stress and flexural stress are greater with 41.47% and with
75.47% respectively, in case of EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy than the values recorded in case of EN AW
6060 – T4 aluminium alloy. It follows that the heat treatment corresponding to the T6 state is better than the one
corresponding to the T4 state of the EN AW 6060 aluminium alloy tested. Consequently, the profiles made of
EN AW 6060 – T6 aluminium alloy whose heat treatment is T6, are recommended to manufacture parts having
high strength properties.
It may remark that EN AW 6060 aluminium alloy has large plastic deformations in bending test in case of both
kinds of heat treatment (Fig. 3).
A similar remark may be noted in case of EN AW 6060 – T4 in case of the tensile test. The maximum strain
 max recorded at maximum force Fmax is more twice greater (with 118.55%) in case of EN AW 6060 – T4
 max  0.181555 than the value recorded in case of EN AW 6060 – T6  max  0.083074  . These remarks
lead to the conclusion that EN AW 6060 - T4 aluminium alloy in T4 state is a ductile material.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors hereby acknowledge the structural founds project PRO-DD (POS-CCE, O.2.2.1., ID 123, SMIS
2637, ctr. No 11/2009) and Transilvania University of Brasov for providing the infrastructure used in this work.

REFERENCES

[1] BS EN 755-2: 1997. Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Extruded rod / bar, tube and profiles. Part 2:
Mechanical properties. 1997;
[2] BS EN 515:1993. Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Wrought products. Temper designations. Standard by
British-Adopted European Standard, 10/15/1993;
[3] SR EN 573-3: 2010. Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought
products. Part 3: Chemical composition and form of products. Romanian Standard version, ASRO, 2010;
[4] SR EN 573-5: 2008. Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought
products. Part 5: Codification of standardized wrought products. Romanian Standard version, ASRO, 2008;
[5] SR EN ISO 6892-1: 2010 (or EN ISO 6892-1: 2002). Metallic materials. Tensile testing. Part 1: Method of
test at room temperature.

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