INFLUENCE OF QUENCHANTS ON TOUGHNESS AND HARDNESS PROPERTIES OF 6063 ALLOYS
Authors: *Adekunle N.O, Kuye S.I, Ismaila S.O, Oladejo K.A, Adebayo H
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect of quenchants on the mechanical properties of two 6063 aluminum alloys. The samples were heat treated to 530oC for 2hrs subsequently quenched in air, brine solution, engine oil and water. Standard specimens from the quenched alloys were subjected to tensile, hardness and impact tests. The microstructure of these alloys after heat treatment and quenching were examined using optical microscope while the Rockwell Hardness were also determined. The results showed that the tensile strength of both samples significantly improved in brine solution and the least strengths were obtained from the alloy samples quenched in air. The specimen quenched in water showed the highest hardness value of 11.02 HRC and 10.3 HRC for both alloys A and B respectively while the best toughness was for the samples quenched in air for both aluminum alloys. The study concluded that brine solution would be a reasonable quenching medium in obtaining an improved strength and hardness of the aluminum alloys.
Affiliations: *Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Keywords: Aluminum Alloys, Quenchants, Heat Treatment, Mechanical Properties, Microstructures
Published date: 2018/06/30
