Development of Surface Roughness in AA6111 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

<p> The effect of strain hardening rate and material strength on the development of surface roughness in AA6111 was investigated. No measurable change in the rate of roughening, or in the surface morphology was observed due to altering the strain hardening rate by using different test temperatures. Changing the material strength and strain hardening rate by altering the precipitation state also gave no significant change in either roughening rate or morphology with respect to strain. The development of surface roughness is also independent of strain history. Samples subjected to an intermediate polish after 20% true strain resumed roughening at the same rate regardless of amount of previous tensile strain. The development of surface roughness is dependent on only the strain level to which the sheet is deformed. The surface morphology seems to be controlled by the combination and distribution of texture components on the surface. The rate of roughening is grain size dependent and the surface grain size may provide a key to controlling roughening. </p>