Implementation of Continuous Cast (CC) AA5754 aluminum alloy in automotive stampings and hydroforms

Low-cost continuous cast (CC) aluminum alloys have slightly lower press formability than current production direct chill (DC) cast aluminum sheet, but the formability is sufficient for many automotive stampings like hood reinforcements, heat shields, skid plates etc. Tubes made of CC 5754 sheet showed similar forming strains in bending and hydroforming compared to conventional DC 5754 seam-welded and 6063 extruded tubes. This study compared the microstructure and post-forming properties of the hydroformed tubes and EBSD measurements of the texture distribution and texture evolution during deformation.