| Abstract Scope |
Serrated plastic flow, termed Portevin – Le Chatelier (PLC) effect, is well documented in 5xxx (Al-Mg) aluminum alloys and is attributed to interactions between Mg solute atoms and dislocations, resulting in dislocation pinning. Although 6xxx (Al-Mg-Si) series alloys contain significantly lower Mg levels, tensile instabilities are still observed, but at much higher plastic strains. Automakers seek to avoid strain localization during stamping operations because it can lead to premature failure, degraded surface quality, and increased process variability.
Previous studies on Al-Mg-Si 6xxx alloys have identified several industrial process variables correlated to serrated flow behavior. Extending this work to a higher-strength Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy (AA6111), this empirical study systematically evaluates the effects of solutionizing, pre-straining before and after pre-aging (PA), pre-aging temperature, and natural aging (NA) on tensile behavior and the occurrence of serrated flow. |