The deep drawability, earing ratio, texture and hardness change by deep drawing were examined for 6061 aluminum alloy specimens age-hardened to various stages. Age hardening results in no or little decrease in the limiting drawing ratio (LDR), whereas work hardening of the same material is accompanied with its drastic decrease. In both age- and work-hardened materials, the LDR is shown to be correlated to total elongation and
n-value, but not to tensile strength and
r-value. Earing appeared in age-hardened specimens is nearly same as in the fully annealed or as quenched ones. The hardness increase due to deep drawing is correlated to
n-value. Deep-drawn products of higher strength and lower earing ratio with no or little decrease in the LDR are obtainable by using age-hardened 6061 alloy.
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