Abstract:
This work is a contribution to the understanding of the phenomena occurring during
the continuous heating of an Al-Mg-Si alloy plastically deformed. Thus, the effect of plastic
deformation at two temperatures (cold and 100°C), applied after two heat treatments, on the
precipitation sequence occurring during continuous heating, has been investigated. In order to
follow the microstructure evolution during the applied treatments, several techniques have been
used such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-rays diffraction (XRD), differential
dilatometry, optical microscopy, SEM, microhardness and internal friction measurements.
The obtained results showed that the heat treatments used as well as the plastic
deformation applied lead to the modification of the precipitation sequence of the alloy, which
has been interpreted by the interactions between precipitation, recovery and recrystallization
reactions, the improvement of their mechanical properties and in particular the microhardness
values.
