Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Aluminium Alloy EN AW 6082 Recycled without Remelting

Abstract

Main aim of this research was to investigate unconventional method for aluminium recycling. Recycling process presented in this research was performed in solid state and therefore is called solid state recycling (SSR) or direct recycling. Main aim of direct recycling approach is to reduce greenhouse gasses emission compared with primary aluminium production and conventional recycling. Other advantages are higher scrap material yield during recycling and energy savings. In this paper, SSR process consisted of aluminium chips hot extrusion and afterwards severe plastic deformation process at room and elevated temperatures. Mechanical properties of the solid state recycled samples obtained by presented process were comparable with samples obtained by conventional manufacturing. Furthermore, it was shown that additional plastic deformation after hot extrusion significantly improved mechanical properties of the recycled samples compared with those recycled only by hot extrusion. Analysis of both microstructure and density analysis was also performed.

Keywords

• aluminium
• ECAP
• mechanical properties
• microstructure
• solid state recycling