Tensile properties and work hardening behavior of continuous-extruded Al-1.1Mg-0.3Cu alloy

In order to improve the drawability of Al-1.1Mg-0.3Cu alloy wire rod, the microstructures and mechanical properties of continuous extruded and conventional drawn and annealed alloys were investigated by observation of optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and tensile testing. The experimental results show that continuous extrusion forming produced a finer, more uniform structure, with fewer precipitates and lower dislocation density, than that resulting from conventional drawing followed by annealing processing. Increased tensile elongation, lowered work hardening rate, and enhanced drawability resulted from continuous extrusion processing. The fracture surface of the material prepared by continuous extrusion presented deeper and finer dimples, compared with that of the conventionally processed material.