6xxx series al alloy sheets with high formability produced by twin-roll strip casting and asymmetric rolling

We report on the feasibility of producing 6xxx series Al alloy sheets using a combination of twinroll strip casting and asymmetric rolling. The Al alloy sheets produced in this study exhibited an excellent formability (r=1.2, Δr=0.17) and mechanical properties (σ _Ts∼260MPa, δ>30%), which cannot be feasibly obtained via the conventional technique based on ingot casting and conventional rolling. The enhanced formability as evaluated in terms of r and Δr was clarified by examining the evolution of textures associated with strip casting and subsequent thermo-mechanical treatments. The evaluation of the formability leads us to conclude that the combined technique based on strip casting and asymmetric rolling is a feasible process for enhancing the formability of Al alloy sheets to a level beyond which the conventional technique can reach.