Effect of Incubation Coupled with Artificial Aging in T6 Heat Treatment of A356.2 Aluminum Casting Alloy

A356.2 is one of the most popular Al casting alloys for structural applications in automotive and aerospace sectors. Typically, the cast components from these alloys undergo a T6 heat treatment to significantly improve the mechanical properties. Solution heat treatments, incubation at room temperature, followed by artificial aging at an elevated temperature are the typical steps in a T6 heat treatment process. The incubation process (IP) is …