About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Aluminum Alloys: Development and Manufacturing
|
| Presentation Title |
Optimization of Heat Treatment Conditions and Microstructural Prediction for Automotive Aluminum 6451 Sheet Using Batch-Type Heat Treatment Equipment |
| Author(s) |
Heon Kang, Cham Il Kim, Yong Shin Kim, Seok Won Son |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Heon Kang |
| Abstract Scope |
Aluminum 6451 alloy sheet is widely used for automotive under-body components that require high strength and formability. Traditionally, these properties are achieved with continuous heat treatment lines offering precise thermal control. This study demonstrates that conventional batch heat treatment furnaces can be adapted to achieve comparable properties by combining experimental optimization with advanced modeling. The heating phase was carried out in standard fixed-type furnaces, while the cooling phase utilized nine high-capacity cooling fans to achieve controlled quenching rates. Thermal cycles were simulated using Ansys software to replicate furnace and fan-assisted cooling conditions. These heat treatment profiles were further analyzed in Thermo-Calc to predict precipitation behavior and phase evolution. Experimental trials validated the simulations by evaluating tensile strength, elongation, and microstructural evolution under varied cycles. Results show that with careful process design, batch processing can reliably meet 6451 sheets for under-body applications, flexible solution for facilities without dedicated continuous lines. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, |