Abstract
In this study, the characteristics of aluminum tube hydroformed products at different extrusion type and heat treatment conditions were investigated. For the investigation, as-extruded, full annealed and T6-treated Al 6061 tubes at different extrusion type were prepared. To evaluate the hydroformability, free bulge test was performed at room temperature to $300^{\circ}C$. Also mechanical properties of hydroformed products at various pre- and post-heat treatments were estimated by hexagonal prototype hydroforming test at $250^{\circ}C$. And the tensile test specimens were obtained from hexagonal prototype hydroformed tube. As a results, hydroformability of full annealed tube is $5{\sim}8%$ higher than that of extruded and T6-treated tube. The tensile strength and elongation of T6-post heat treated indirect extrusion tube were more than 330MPa and 12%, respectively. However, T6 pre treated hydroformed product represents high strength, 330MPa and low elongation, 8%. Therefore, Hydroformability of Al6061 tube showed similar value for both extrusion types. However flow stress of direct tube showed $20{\sim}50MPa$ lower value than indirect tube.
