Mechanical properties and rate-sensitive deformation of AA6063 aluminum alloys at 298 K, 78 K, and 4 K

The mechanical properties and rate-sensitive deformation of T4 and T6 AA6063 aluminum alloys have been analyzed at 298 K, 78 K, and 4 K. The strength, ductility, and work hardening capacity of two alloys increase with decreasing deformation temperature. Plastic deformation of AA6063-T4 is accompanied by adiabatic flow stress instabilities at 4 K and the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect at 298 K. The alloy shows a better synergy of flow stress and work hardening than the T6 condition, determined by the underlying microstructure. The limited ability of dislocation storage in T6 alloy arises from shearing β″ particles and the enhanced dislocation annihilation occurring in pure Al matrix. The failure of the alloys is promoted by void nucleation at intermetallic particles before the Considére criterion is fulfilled. AA6063-T6 exhibits positive strain rate sensitivity (SRS) at three temperatures. Dislocations-β″ particle interactions determine its SRS and are a rate-controlling process at 298 K. AA6063-T4 shows negative strain rate sensitivity (nSRS) at 298 K controlled by dislocation-solute interactions. Data for SRS and thermodynamic deformation parameters characterizing different mechanisms in T4 and T6 alloys between 4 K and 298 K are discussed. The results indicate that plastic deformation produces vacancies by jogs' dragging at 298 K, but this process does not occur at 78 K and 4 K.