Effect of process type and heat treatment conditions on warm hydroformability

온간액압성형특성에 미치는 압출제조공정과 열처리 조건의 영향

In this study, hydroformability and mechanical properties of pre- and post- heat treated Al6061 tubes at different extrusion type were investigated. For the investigation, as-extruded, full annealed and T6-treated Al6061 tubes at different extrusion type were prepared. To evaluate the hydroformability, uni-axial tensile test and free bulge test were performed at room temperature and $250^{\circ}C$. Also mechanical properties of hydroformed part at various pre- and post-heat treatments were estimated by tensile test. And the tensile test specimens were obtained from hexagonal prototype hydroformed tube at $250^{\circ}C$. As for the heat treatment, hydroformability of full annealed tube is 25% higher than that of extruded tube. The tensile strength and elongation were more than 330MPa and 12%, respectively, when hydroformed part was post-T6 treated after hydroforming of pre- full annealed tube. However, hydroformed part using T6 pre treated tube represents high strength and low elongation, 8%. Therefore, the T6 treatment after hydroforming for as-extruded tube is cost-effective. Hydroformability of Al6061 tube showed similar value for both extrusion types. But flow stress of seam tube showed $20{\sim}50MPa$ lower value.