Modelling the laser overageing treatment of a 6xxx Al alloy by means of physical simulation tests

The local modification of the material properties is a promising strategy to broaden the range of applications for Aluminum (Al) alloys, since excessive thinning are avoided, and sound parts obtained. For example, by means of laser heating, the strain behaviour of age hardenable Al alloys can be locally affected to enhance the formability at room temperature. But predicting the properties modification (occurrence of overageing/solutioning) due to the local heating still needs investigations. In this work, short-term heat treatments on AA6063-T6 samples were conducted using the Gleeble system (able to subject the material to high heating rates combined with large temperature gradients). Wide ranges of temperature and time were thus explored, and the change of mechanical properties assessed by hardness tests. Experimental data were used to create a model and thus define the heating parameters able to bring the material to the overaged state or, alternatively, to the fully solutioned one.