TITLE:
Investigation of the Quenching Properties of Selected Media on 6061 Aluminum Alloy
AUTHORS:
O. K. Abubakre, U. P. Mamaki, R. A Muriana
KEYWORDS:
6061 Aluminum alloy, Quenching Properties
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.8 No.4,
April
20,
2009
ABSTRACT: Specimens of 6061 Aluminum alloy were prepared and quenched in water, sheanut oil and palm
oil at temperature of 400℃, 450℃ and 530℃ to determine the effect of variation in temperature
and quenching media on some mechanical properties and the microstructure of the alloy.
Standard specimens from the rapidly quenched alloys were subject to various tests to determine
their ultimate tensile strength, hardness and impact strength. The results showed that the
specimen heat-treated to 530℃ and quenched in water has the highest tensile strength of 109
N/mm2and yield strength of 70.89 N/mm2. The specimen heated at 530℃ and quenched in water gave the highest value of 35.50 in hardness (HRC). The toughness property of the alloy, as indicated by Charpy impact values, is better at 530℃ for specimen quenched in sheanut oil and least impact strength is observed in specimen quenched in water at 400℃.