Identifying Optimal Hot Forming Conditions for AA6010 Alloy by Means of Elevated Temperature Tensile Testing

AA6010 in the F temper was investigated using a Gleeble 3800 test rig across a range of temperatures (350–550 °C) and strain rates (1 × 10−1 s−1 1 × 101 s−1) to identify optimal forming conditions. Post-forming electron back-scattered diffraction analysis was conducted to identify the mechanisms responsible for the material formability. Optimal forming conditions were observed to be 500 °C and a strain rate of 1 × 10−1 s−1, with clear evidence of dynamic recrystallisation observed, this being the dominant mechanism responsible for the increased formability. Peak yield strength of 335 MPa was achieved using a rapid aging treatment of 205 °C for one hour.