Influence of the Quench Rate and Trace Elements on 6XXX Alloys

6XXX alloys (AlMgSi) are of great importance for the automotive industry and lightweight design. Currently, more than 100 different compositions (different levels of alloying elements, different magnesium: silicon ratios, trace elements,…) of the alloy 6082 are known, showing big differences in mechanical and corrosion properties. Especially high-alloyed 6082, 6061, and 6066 have a significant quench and corrosion susceptibility. In this study, quench rates between 1 and 200 °C/s were applied to study the effect on mechanical and corrosion properties. Different magnesium and silicon levels were analyzed as a function of quench rate and aging parameters. It has been found, that in most cases a higher strength can be achieved with a hot quench medium. Possible explanations are the lower viscosity with a better heat transfer coefficient, furthermore, a hot quench medium could act as a pre-aging heat treatment.