STUDYOFLOW-CYCLEFATIGUEINHEAT-TREATEDAl-MgALLOYS.docVIP

STUDY OF LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE IN HEAT-TREATED Al-Mg ALLOYS N. Plaza1, S. Pedraza2, O. M Suarez3 1. Eugenio Maria de Hostos High School – Mayagüez 2. Department Mechanical Engineering- University of Puerto Rico 3. Department of General Engineering University of Puerto Rico Abstract The AA5182 Al-Mg alloy is used in applications where high formability and strength are required like container ends, can stocks, reinforcement members and automotive parts. With convenient heat treatments the alloy strength increases and it can be used in aerospace applications. In the present research Al-Mg aluminum beverage can tabs were heat treated within a temperature range between 170oC and 450oC beginning with solubility and then aging treatment. The tabs were tested under low-cycle fatigue conditions. The fatigue strength measured by the number of loading cycles increased in the first two hours of exposure to the aging treatment at any temperature. The maximum resistance was reached at 2.5 hours. After this time it dropped in all treatments except for the 270oC treatment, where it decreased gradually. The fatigue strength increment could not be defined since the geometry of the tab affected the type of fracture and the number well of cycles. In the microstructure, the formation of precipitates at low temperature (aging 170 oC and 270 oC) caused a low fatigue resistance in the material. However at high temperatures (370oC) the treatment facilitated precipitates dissolution reinforcing the aluminum matrix and making it more resistant. Introduction Al-Mg alloys as the AA 5182 are used in applications where minimum thickness, maximum strength and lowest cost are required such as inner panels, brackets and non visible supports and beverage cans easy opening ends. The Al-Mg 5000 series alloys are stronger than the 3000 series (used in the body of beverage cans) and have a good corrosion resistance and weldability combined with excellent formability1. One way to increase the s