ABSTRACT
The novel integrated manufacturing process of Hot Form Quenching (HFQ) has been shown to greatly improve the formability of high strength aluminum alloys (i.e. Al6xxx series). This forming process can offer significant advantages in the manufacture of lightweight components with lower cost for automotive applications that increasingly require lightweight solutions to meet increasingly strict emissions standards and regulations. The present work addresses issues relating to the joining of HFQ parts.
In particular, the paper discusses the details of the adhesive bonding strategy for the aluminum parts produced using HFQ process, considering the forming and joining parameters (i.e. lubricants used during the HFQ process and the surface pre-treatment methods required). The performance of the resulting joints have been evaluated using a fracture mechanics approach, and the resulting fracture surfaces were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
