2. Characterization of the Fatigue and Damage Behavior of Extruded AW6060 Aluminum Chip Profiles

Due to a great potential for conserving resources, the direct recycling of aluminum chips by hot extrusion is a promising alternative to energy-intensive remelting process. The mechanical properties of cast-based and chip-based specimens of AW6060 aluminum alloy were characterized by means of mechanical quasi-static and cyclic experiments. The response of the material was followed by means of hysteresis, thermometric and resistometric measurements, whereby the fatigue strength could be estimated by alternating current potential drop-technique. The effects deriving from defects in the microstructure, in the form of cavities and seam welds between the chips, could be correlated with the fatigue properties by means of optical and scanning electron micrographs.