A 6061 aluminum probe was quenched with the CHTE probe-quenching system in distilled water while varying bath temperature and the level of agitation. Time vs. temperature data was collected during the quench by use of an ungrounded K-type thermocouple embedded inside the probe. Cooling rates and heat transfer coefficients, h, were calculated and Quench Factor Analysis (QFA) was also performed to quantitatively classify the quench severity. The data showed an increase in both maximum cooling rate and heat transfer coefficient and a decrease in the Quench Factor, Q, as bath temperature decreased and agitation level increased. Maximum heat transfer coefficient values ranged from 1000 W/m2K to 3900 W/m2K while maximum cooling rates of 50¡ÃƒÂ£C/s to 190¡ÃƒÂ£C/s were achieved. In addition, it was found that at higher levels of agitation, there was also an increase in the variation (i.e. standard deviation) of the cooling rate and therefore h and Q.

The aim of this thesis work is to design and manufacture a Dissimilar Channel Angular Pressing (DCAP) system for severe plastic deformation of aluminum alloy sheets in order to obtain ultra-fine grained structure. First, a DCAP system was designed by Finite Element Analysis and constructed after various optimization trials. Next, 6061-T0 aluminum alloy plates were severely deformed by various DCAP passes through the system. The samples were characterized by metallography, X-ray diffraction, tension and hardness tests. It has been observed that the yield strength was improved about 100 % after 2 DCAP passes, and 45 nm sub-grain size was obtained.