• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2009

Mechanical properties and precipitation behavior of backward extruded 6061 Al alloy for pressure vessel were investigated using tensile test, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). In this study, solution heat treatment (SHT) was performed at $535^{\circ}C$ for 30~90 min and aging treatment was conducted at 177 and $190^{\circ}C$ for 1~7 h. Maximum tensile strength of $36.6kgf/mm^2$ and yield strength of $33.29kgf/mm^2$ were achieved at the aging time of 5 h at $190^{\circ}C$. TEM observation showed that fine needle-like ${\beta}^{{\prime}{\prime}}$ phase which has 35~45 nm of length was uniformly distributed in the aged 6061 Al alloy specimen. From tensile test, TEM and DSC analysis, it is expected that aging time of 2~5 h at $190^{\circ}C$ is suitable for the extruded A6061 used as pressure vessels.