Spreader Bar

1
Spreader Bar

• Color Anodized 6061-T6 Aluminum

2
Spreader Bar

• Function
• Material
• 6061 Aluminum
• T6
• Color Anodized

3
Function

• Keeps the cable from collapsing on itself
• Keeps loading perpendicular to axle
• Acts as bar in compression

4
Material

• 6000 Series
• Lower strength
• Good for extrusions
• Popular in sports equipment

5
6061 Aluminum Composition
6
6061 Aluminum

• Heat-treatable
• Medium strength
• Good
• Formability
• Weldability
• Machinability
• Corrosion Resistance

7
6061 Aluminum

• Density 0.098 lb/in3
• Specific Gravity 2.7
• Melting Point 1090F
• Modulus of Elasticity in Tension
• 10.0 x 106 psi
• Modulus of Elasticity in Compression
• 10.1 x 106 psi

8
What does the T6 mean?

• The T6 refers to the temper of the metal or the
  type of heat treatment
• Process
• Solution heat-treated at 550C
• Quenched in water at 20C
• Artificially aged at 250C for 8 hours

9
What Artificial Aging Does

• Artificial aging speeds up precipitation
  hardening, a strengthening mechanism
• (As Opposed to Artificial Unaging)

10
Artificial Aging

• Before After
• After age hardening, the structure becomes more
  homogeneous.

11
Effects of Heat Treatment
12
Disadvantage of Aged Aluminum Alloys

• Alloys tend to corrode more quickly than pure
  metals

13
Color Anodizing Why?

• Anodizing makes a thicker than natural oxide
  coating, up to several thousandths of an inch
  thick
• Adds surface hardness that rivals that of a
  diamond
• Increases abrasion resistance
• Improves corrosion resistance
• Easier to clean
• Can be dyed to make it more attractive

14
Color Anodizing What is it?

• An electro chemical conversion process
• Changes the outer structure of the metal, rather
  than an applied coating like paint
• Forms an oxide layer in and on the outer layer of
  the metal. The outer oxide layer can be dyed in
  many colors

15
Color Anodizing Process

• Parts are put on racks made of aluminum or
  titanium .
• Suspended in a series of tanks made of either
• Lead lined steel
• Stainless steel
• Lead lined wood
• Fiberglass lined concentrate
• Plastic

16
Color Anodizing Process

• Cleaned
• Natural non-uniform aluminum oxide surface is
  removed
• Etching
• Anodizing

17
Color Anodizing Process

• Part is colored through dying
• Surface is sealed

18
Group Members

• Kenny Abbott
• Sarah Blake
• Mike DeMaio
• Mary Girard
• Elizabeth Goodine
• Mike Mobarry