Imperial College London
In response to the unprecedented global demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient automobiles, the use of novel forming technologies to make sheet aluminium components has increased in the past decade. Fast Light Alloys Stamping Technology (FAST) is one such process, where an ultra-fast heating rate during the heating stage and precision processing parameters control in order to minimize changes to the material microstructure which are detrimental to the post-form strength. Precisely studying this novel forming process for different materials is vital for ensuring that a component can be formed successfully and met an ideal final strength. This work studied the strengthening response of 4 different pre-aged AA6xxx alloys to the FAST technology. The optimisation of the processing window of the FAST process and a post-Paint Bake Cycle (PBC) strength investigation on various forming process conditions were conducted by manufacturing M-shaped components in a lab-scale. Real-scaled forming trails were also conducted with the 4 different alloys and the strength values were compared with the lab-scale M-shape results.
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