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The 6xxx aluminum alloy is the first choice for automotive lightweight forgings due to its excellent performance, high strength and low weight. The production time of current aluminum alloy forging generally exceeds 10 h. To reduce the production time of traditional aluminum alloy forgings, 6082-T6 aluminum alloy is used in the forming process. The effects of different heating temperatures (200 °C, 300 °C, and 400 °C) and deformation degrees (30%, 50%, and 70%) on the deformability and properties of 6082-T6 billets have been investigated. The results show that when the heating temperature is higher than 300 °C, the compressive deformation resistance obviously decreases with increasing strength. With compression at 200 °C and 70% deformation with short heating time, the strength of the sample is close to the T6 (solution treatment and artificial aging) state. A large number of dislocations and subgrains were introduced due to the compression deformation, and their amounts decreased as the heating temperature increased. The size of the precipitated phase β′′ slightly grows under a heating temperature of 200 °C. However, when the heating temperature is higher than 300 °C, the precipitated phase gradually changes from β′′, which is optimal for the strengthening effect, to β′ and β, which offer weaker strengthening. Therefore, under a lower heating temperature of 200 °C for 5 min, a large number of dislocations are introduced with the β′′ precipitated phase, leading to higher strength with less heat treatment time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under compressive testing at 400 °C and a strain rate range of 0.05–5 s−1, the hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of an as-cast (AC), as-extruded (with a bimodal grain structure (named as Ex-1) or a relatively uniform fine grain structure (Ex-2)) WE43 alloy have been investigated and compared. The results indicate that the AC sample exhibits the highest peak stress, while the Ex-2 sample has the lowest value. Within the AC material, fine grains were firstly formed along the pancake-like deformed grains (as a necklace structure). The necklace structure was also formed within the Ex-1 and Ex-2 materials at high strain rates of 0.5 and 5 s−1. However, a lamellar structure that the coarse elongated grains divided by parallel boundaries was formed within the Ex-1 material. A relatively more homogeneous fine grain structure is achieved after a true strain of 1.0 within the Ex-2 material at a low strain rate of 0.05 s−1. In addition, a discontinuous dynamic recrystallization mechanism by grain boundary bulging is found to occur. After a true strain of 1.2, a (0001) fiber texture, a typical rare earth (RE) texture, and a relatively random texture are formed within the AC, Ex-1, and Ex-2 WE43 alloy material, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]