Elevated Temperature Exposure Effects: A Comparison of 6xxx-Series and 7xxx-Series Alloys

摘要

Structural automotive applications are increasingly looking for higher-strength solutions to further increase weight savings. In these automotive applications there can be exposure to elevated temperatures, either through proximity to the engine compartment or during the assembly paint bake cycle. The aging kinetics of 6xxx-series and 7xxx-series alloys are very different, with 7xxx-series alloys being faster. This paper explores the effects of elevated temperature exposure on the strength of these two alloy systems.