Analisi del processo di formatura per i forgiati di cilindri in lega di alluminio 2A14

Analisi del processo di formatura per i forgiati di cilindri in lega di alluminio 2A14

In the trial production process of 2A14 aluminum alloy cylinder forgings, a blank opening process scheme of cross upsetting drawing, horse frame expanding, and core shaft elongation was adopted. Ring rolling production was carried out on a vertical ring rolling machine, and forgings meeting the mechanical performance requirements were produced.

2A14 is a deformable aluminum alloy that can be heat treated and strengthened, belonging to the Al Cu Mg Si system. It has high strength and thermoplastic properties, and is suitable for manufacturing high load parts with thick sections. It is widely used in fields such as aerospace and civil transportation. For the manufacturing of large-sized cylindrical forgings, due to the phenomenon of uneven microstructure, coarse grains, and component segregation in large-diameter bars, conventional forging methods are used for forming, which poses difficulties in forging through and ensuring the quality of forgings. By applying large plastic deformation to the ingot through forging, the microstructure and grain refinement can be improved, thereby improving the comprehensive mechanical properties of the material and obtaining a rolling ring material with excellent microstructure. Then, the rolling ring process can be used to produce forgings that meet the mechanical performance requirements. On the basis of our own deep cylindrical forging ring rolling technology, combined with the inherent process characteristics of aluminum alloy materials, our company has summarized a set of blank opening processes suitable for aluminum alloy cylinder forming. We have used the largest vertical ring rolling machine in China to produce and successfully manufactured 2A14 aluminum alloy cylinder forgings with a size of Φ1020mm×Φ900mm×1270mm.

1. Condition of 2A14 aluminum alloy cylinder forgings

The raw material for the forging is 2A14 ingot provided by Southwest Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. The chemical composition of the raw material is shown in Table 1. The delivery status is T6 (solid solution+artificial aging). The mechanical performance requirements are shown in Table 2. The dimensions of rough machined forgings are shown in Figure 1. The forging weight is relatively heavy (cutting weight 1250kg).

2. Analysis of the Forming Process for 2A14 Aluminum Alloy Cylinder Forgings

The traditional manufacturing method for cylinder forgings is to use free forging forming. It is difficult for large-sized bars to achieve a fine and uniform structure, and it is necessary to use sufficient plastic deformation during billet opening to transform the as-cast structure into a uniform and fine structure suitable for subsequent forging processing, thereby improving the comprehensive mechanical properties of the material. Therefore, how to maximize the amount of deformation and refine the microstructure is a key process for the opening of large-sized aluminum alloy cylinder forgings. Research has shown that the large plastic deformation method (SPD) can significantly refine the grain size and greatly improve the strength and toughness of the material. However, this method is currently in the experimental research stage. For the forming of aluminum alloy cylinder parts, Zhang Wenwen et al. studied the blank opening process of large-sized 2219 aluminum alloy using multi-directional forging. The castings were subjected to upsetting and elongation deformation in three directions, and the forming of large-sized ring blanks was achieved through horse frame expanding. In industrial production, the use of cross upsetting and drawing with sufficient deformation can eliminate the directionality of aluminum alloy structure and properties, improve the uniformity of structure and properties, and improve the overall performance of the product. The process is simple and the cost is low.

Table.1 Chemical Composition of Raw Materials (Mass Fraction,%)

Si	Fe	Cu	Mn	Mg	Ni	Zn	Ti	Al
1	0.3	4.22	0.79	0.57	0.02	0.08	0.03	Allowance

Table.2 Mechanical Property Requirements for 2A14 Aluminum Alloy Cylinder Forgings

	Rm/MPa	A( %)	HBW
Portrait	≥410	≥8	≥120
Transverse	≥355	≥4
Radial	≥335	≥3

Figure.1 Dimensional Drawing of Forgings
In the trial production process of 2A14 cylinder forgings, a combination of cross upsetting drawing, horse frame expanding, and mandrel elongation was used to increase the forging ratio and deformation in the three directions of vertical and horizontal height, thereby improving the comprehensive performance of the product. The specific process flow for manufacturing 2A14 cylinder forgings is: cutting → grinding → billet making → machining inner hole → horse frame expanding hole → mandrel elongation → ring rolling → heat treatment → performance testing → mechanical processing. The initial forging temperature of the billet is 470 ℃, and the final forging temperature is controlled above 370 ℃. The billet was produced using a cross upset drawing method on a 36MN hydraulic press, with an overall deformation of 265%. The schematic diagram of billet production is shown in Figure 2. The cross cross upsetting deformation increases the deformation degree of the ingot, ensuring the uniformity of the ingot deformation. During the forging process, the contact surface between the billet and the hammer head and the lower anvil often changes, which will not cause excessive local temperature reduction, thus reducing the risk of cracks on the end face.
After the cross upsetting and drawing of the ring blank, it is cooled and machined with an inner hole. The ring blank is then placed in a heating furnace for heating, and the ring material for rolling the ring is made by expanding the hole on a horse frame (with an overall deformation of 10%) and elongating the core shaft (with an overall deformation of 20%). Then, the material is reheated for the second time and rolled on a 2300mm vertical ring rolling machine. The radial feed rate of the ring rolling machine is (0.6-0.7) mm/s, and the deformation is 49%. The heat treatment adopts T6 (solid solution+artificial aging) treatment, and the specific method is: insulation at 500 ℃ for 4 hours, water cooling; 160 ℃ insulation for 7 hours, air-cooled. Saw a 120mm sample at one end of the cylinder for physical and chemical testing, and then machine it to the required size.

3. Analysis of Trial Production Results of 2A14 Cylinder Forgings

The external dimensions of the cylinder forgings trial produced according to the above process plan meet the processing requirements, and the inspection results meet the requirements of Ultrasonic testing Methods for Wrought Aluminum and Magnesium Alloy Products (GB/T6519-2013). Cut the test material from the ring blank and take samples in three directions: axial, radial, and tangential. The sampling positions are shown in Figure 3. The mechanical performance test results are shown in Tables 3 to 5, and the mechanical properties meet the requirements. The measured hardness value is 130HBW.

4. Conclusione

(1) The cross upsetting drawing, horse frame expansion, and mandrel elongation process scheme for 2A14 aluminum alloy cylindrical forging has sufficient deformation, which is conducive to refining the structure, improving the mechanical properties of the material in different directions, and obtaining good rolling ring blanks.

Figure.2 Schematic diagram of forging billet

Figure.3 Schematic diagram of sampling location

Table.3 Testing Results of Tangential Mechanical Properties of Forgings

	Sampling Location And Direction	Rm/MPa	Rp0.2/MPa	A(%)
Standard value	Portrait	≥410	-	8-14
Test Value	Longitudinal 0 °	435	330	13. 5
	Longitudinal 90 °	430	330	8. 5
	Vertical 180 °	420	295	11
	Vertical 270 °	420	300	10

Table.4 Test Results of Axial Mechanical Properties of Forgings

	Sampling location and direction	Rm/MPa	A(%)
Standard value	Horizontal by width (axial)	≥355	4-14
Test Value	Axial 0 °	425	11
	Axial 90 °	430	12
	Axial 180 °	415	11.5
	Axial 270 °	415	10

Table.5 Inspection Results of Radial Mechanical Properties of Forgings

	Sampling location and direction	Rm/MPa	A(%)
Standard value	Horizontal by thickness (radial)	≥335	3-14
Test Value	Radial 0 °	385	4
	Radial 90 °	390	4
	Radial 180 °	365	4.5
	Radial 270 °	375	4.5

(2) The ring blank after opening is produced by the vertical ring rolling machine with the highest pressure in China. The mechanical properties of the forging meet the design requirements. The use of ring rolling technology can solve the problem of mechanical properties that cannot meet the requirements brought by traditional free forging ring parts, and can meet the requirements of aerospace components for ring structure performance, uniformity, and batch stability.

Author: Liu Zhi