May 13 - 16, 2008
Gaylord Palms
Orlando, Florida USA

Extrusion/Die Practical

067 PR 
Thursday, May 15 - 2:15pm

Quench Sensitivity Test Method for Aluminum Extrusion Alloys

Elizabeth D. Sweet, Benjamin R. Harker, Xinquan Zhang, and
Malcolm J. Couper -- Rio Tinto Aluminium Technology, Australia

The quench sensitivity test method presented provides continuous hardness results over various cooling rates. Extrusion samples (6xxx-series alloys) are solution-treated, quenched with one end in water and the other end in still air, T6 aged, and hardness measured along the length. Cooling rates are determined using a series of embedded thermocouples. This method establishes minimum cooling rate to achieve given property levels, providing off line characterization of quench sensitivity.