Investigation into the causes of cracking of 2024 aluminium alloy during rolling operation

Aluminium alloy 2024 bars cracked during cold rolling to produce strips conforming to T-3 temper designation. The specimens had reduced to 10 mm X 10 mm size by hot rolling rectangular ingots of size 25 mm X 25 mm in 3 passes using the rolling mill. Microscopic studies of the cracked specimens revealed the presence of inclusions on the grain boundaries and in the fracture valleys. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) indicated that inclusions were rich in iron. Fractrogapy of fracture specimens were carried out using both optical scanning electron microscopy which indicated brittle fracture due to the presence of iron inclusions. (author)