Effect of Solution Treatment and Artificial Aging on the Work Hardening Characteristics of D357 Alloy Castings

The effects of solution treatment time and artificial aging on the work hardening characteristics on Al-7%Si-0.6%Mg (D357) alloy castings were investigated. Four different solution treatment times at 540°C (1, 4, 16 and 64 hours) and six different artificial aging times at 160°C (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 hours) were used. Work hardening characteristics were investigated by Kocks-Mecking plots for each specimen. The effects of Si particle morphology (solution treatment) and matrix strength (aging) on Kocks-Mecking (Stage III) work hardening model parameters are discussed in the paper.