COLD-FORGING OF HIGH-STRENGTH ALUMINUM-ALLOYS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW THERMOMECHANICAL PROCESSING

Cold forging is a process suitable for manufacturing low-cost and high quality automotive components in high strength aluminium alloys. This method is particularly suitable for parts with narrow geometrical tol erances, good concentricity, smooth surface finish and for near net sh ape products. However, an increasing request for producing components at a lower cost requires even more economical production processes. Fo rming in the warm condition is an alternative process that has the adv antages of producing rather complicated geometrical shapes in less ope ration steps compared to cold forming. In addition, warm forming at mo derate temperatures has all the benefits of cold forming including goo d control of the microstructure and thereby improved strength and duct ility. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.