Pre-straining to improve the bake hardening response of a twin-roll cast Al-Mg-Si alloy

Twin-roll cast (TRC) Al-Mg-Si sheet samples were pre-strained in tension shortly after the solution treatment. Microhardness, electrical conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry measurements were employed to investigate the effect of a mechanical rather than a thermal treatment on the bake hardening response. (C) 2004 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.