Analysis of Strain Hardening Behaviour of Cast Aluminium Alloy 354 Subjected to Artificial Ageing at Various Temperatures

Automotive industry makes wide scale use of cast aluminium alloy 354 in the production of crucial components, such as compressor wheels for turbochargers. The compressor wheels undergo T61 heat treatment, involving artificial ageing at 188°C. This study focuses on the possible improvement of the mechanical behaviour of the components by subjecting them to modified heat treatments involving usage of lower artificial ageing temperatures (160, 171 and 177°C). A comparative analysis of tensile properties and strain hardening behaviour has been carried out with different artificial ageing temperatures. Results showed that the heat treatment routinely employed by the industry (aged at 188°C) leads to overageing, thereby resulting in relatively inferior mechanical properties and lower strain hardening rates as compared to the samples heat treated at lower artificial ageing temperatures. It is concluded that lowering of the artificial ageing temperature can lead to a superior state of components with respect to mechanical behaviour.