Prediction of Aging Kinetics and Yield Strength of 6063 Alloy

Bulk hardness and tensile properties of an AA6063 Al-Mg-Si alloy specimens subjected to artificial age-hardening treatment over a wide range of temperatures (373-523K) and time durations (5min to 60days) have been determined and analyzed to predict complete aging kinetics and yield strength. The predictions have been made using simplified hardness-based models. The experimental results are used to generate kinetic models for under- and overaging regimes following the Johnson-Mehl-Avarami and the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner equations, respectively. The obtained kinetic parameters are found to satisfactorily describe the overall aging kinetics of the Al-Mg-Si alloy. Additionally, relationship between the estimated hardness and the yield strength values of the AA6063 alloy has been established and its utility has been validated. The developed hardness-based models can be used as convenient tool to determine the state of aging and to predict the yield strength of Al-Mg-Si alloy.