The Influence of Billet Processing on the Mechanical Properties of Forged 6061 Aluminium

The University of Melbourne, in collaboration with the local automotive and forging industry, is undertaking a research project to review the application of light alloys in safety critical automotive applications. The initial research scope was proposed in response to an identified need for component mass reduction. Mass reduction is a highly important objective for automotive design due to the associated improvement in fuel economy, dynamic performance, and emissions. The forging partner light alloy forging as an emerging opportunity to achieve mass reduction in a mode commensurate with their manufacturing capability. This also provided an opportunity to offset a recent loss of business to increasingly competitive casting technologies.