Question

Explain the difference between heat treatable aluminum alloys and work hardenable aluminum alloys. Which is more easily cold worked? Why?

Answer 1

Difference between heat treatable vs work hardenable aluminium alloys

Heat treatable aluminium alloys offer excellent toughness and strength. Being lightweight and carefully heat-treated these alloys can be used in high tech applications especially in aircraft and other lightweight flying objects. Most of the heat treatable aluminium alloys contain copper upto fifteen per cent the problem associated with these alloys are they are not good the moisture as they lack anti-corrosive nature against such environments.Work hardenability depends upon cold working. More amount of cold work done more it will be work-hardened. Work hardenable aluminium alloys are less ductile but have more tensile/yield strength and more hardness. Work hardenable aluminium alloys are easily cold worked. as their composition of alloying elements such as aluminium-magnesium make them suitable for cold working than heat treatable.