Change in the Wear Characteristics of T6 Heat-Treated 2024, 6063, and 7075 Alloys at Different Quenching Temperatures

Abstract

This paper reports the quenching process optimization and wear properties of T6-treated 2024, 6063, and 7075 aluminum alloys. 25 and 65 degrees C were selected to determine the effect of elevated temperatures of the quenching medium. The hardness of samples was measured after T6. The wear behavior of alloys was compared with some parameters such as weight loss, volume loss, and wear rate by abrasive wear tests under dry sliding conditions. Surface roughness measurements were carried out to determine the quality of the worn surfaces. Also, wear mechanisms were determined with the wear map. Wear properties and microstructure were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. As a result, unlike 2024, the hardness of 6063 and 7075 alloys decreased with increasing quenching temperature. The wear rate decreased in the 6063 and 7075 alloys as the quenching temperature increased, but increased in the 2024 sample. Plastic deformation, fatigue, micro-shearing, micro-fracture and delamination mechanisms were determined depending on the changing load and sliding distances in wear. Surface roughness significantly improved with constant weight loss, hardness, volume loss, and wear rate parameters, particularly at high application forces.