Influence of billet structures on properties of 6063 alloy extrusions

Abstract

Homogenized 6063 alloy billets having feather crystals (F.C.) and granular crystals (G.C.) were hot extruded with a 1500 ton press. Extruding conditions for the F.C. billet into extrusions having granular structure are established. When extruded at a low temperature 390°C, the mechanical properties, surface roughness and anodic film thickness of extrusions are nearly he same for F.C. and G.C. billet structures. The original cast structure (121) [111] in the F.C. billet still remains in the extrusions. When the F.C. and G.C. billets are extruded at an elevated temperature, the exrusions have typical orientations of cold-rolled aluminum sheets n (123) [211] and (130) [315]. A typical hot-rolling orientaion (110) [001] is also found in the extrusion of the G.C. billet. Both the extrusions of FC. and G.C. billets have nearly the same properties.