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A review of W-temper forming methods for high-strength 7xxx aluminum alloy sheet Cover

A review of W-temper forming methods for high-strength 7xxx aluminum alloy sheet

Materials Science-Poland
Volume 43 (2025): Issue 4 (December 2025)
By: Mateusz Skwarski  
Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Graphic diagram of the WT-F process (author’s own drawing).
Graphic diagram of the WT-F process (author’s own drawing).

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of the quench forming process in the form of a temperature-time graph (author’s own drawing).
Schematic diagram of the quench forming process in the form of a temperature-time graph (author’s own drawing).

Figure 3

The effect of solutioning temperature on the hardness of EN AW-7075: (a) Procedure and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [14]).
The effect of solutioning temperature on the hardness of EN AW-7075: (a) Procedure and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [14]).

Figure 4

Effect of solutioning time on material hardness: (a) Procedure and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [14]).
Effect of solutioning time on material hardness: (a) Procedure and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [14]).

Figure 5

Tensile tests of solution heat treated sheets [17].
Tensile tests of solution heat treated sheets [17].

Figure 6

Procedure diagram (author’s own drawing based on [18]).
Procedure diagram (author’s own drawing based on [18]).

Figure 7

Stress–strain curves for specimens obtained from the different simulated process routes [18].
Stress–strain curves for specimens obtained from the different simulated process routes [18].

Figure 8

(a) YS and UTS, (b) elongation at fracture, and (c) strain rate sensitivity of 7021 and 7075 at different temperatures/tempers and strain rates [19].
(a) YS and UTS, (b) elongation at fracture, and (c) strain rate sensitivity of 7021 and 7075 at different temperatures/tempers and strain rates [19].

Figure 9

Hardness after SHT at different oven times: (a) Methodology and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [17]).
Hardness after SHT at different oven times: (a) Methodology and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [17]).

Figure 10

Hardness after SHT and natural aging at different times: (a) Methodology and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [17]).
Hardness after SHT and natural aging at different times: (a) Methodology and (b) results (author’s own drawings based on [17]).

Figure 11

Research methodology of PH and T4 treatment (author’s own drawing based on [23]).
Research methodology of PH and T4 treatment (author’s own drawing based on [23]).

Figure 12

Mechanical properties of alloys in different tempered states subjected to varied deformation levels: (a) T4-temper alloy and (b) PH alloy [23].
Mechanical properties of alloys in different tempered states subjected to varied deformation levels: (a) T4-temper alloy and (b) PH alloy [23].

Figure 13

Mechanical properties of alloys in different tempered states after various deformation levels and paint-bake treatments: (a) T4-temper alloy and (b) PH alloy [23].
Mechanical properties of alloys in different tempered states after various deformation levels and paint-bake treatments: (a) T4-temper alloy and (b) PH alloy [23].

Figure 14

(a) Tool dimensions for the forming limit test, (b) specimens for different loading paths, (c) measured FLD for the T6 and (d) WT sheets, and (e) LDHs between the T6 and WT sheets [20].
(a) Tool dimensions for the forming limit test, (b) specimens for different loading paths, (c) measured FLD for the T6 and (d) WT sheets, and (e) LDHs between the T6 and WT sheets [20].

Figure 15

Forming limit curves for AW 7075-WT and T6 [22].
Forming limit curves for AW 7075-WT and T6 [22].

Figure 16

The effect of aging temperature on the hardness of EN AW-7075: (a) Methodology and (b) results (author’s own drawing based on [14]).
The effect of aging temperature on the hardness of EN AW-7075: (a) Methodology and (b) results (author’s own drawing based on [14]).

Figure 17

The effect of aging time on the hardness of EN AW-7075: (a) Methodology, (b) results (author’s own drawing based on [14]).
The effect of aging time on the hardness of EN AW-7075: (a) Methodology, (b) results (author’s own drawing based on [14]).

Figure 18

Schematic diagram of thermoplastic treatment of EN AW-7075 (author’s own drawing based on [25]).
Schematic diagram of thermoplastic treatment of EN AW-7075 (author’s own drawing based on [25]).

Figure 19

Effects of SHT & water quenching, PA, and PB on (a) stress vs strain curves and (b) mechanical properties of EN AW-7075 [25].
Effects of SHT & water quenching, PA, and PB on (a) stress vs strain curves and (b) mechanical properties of EN AW-7075 [25].

Figure 20

Effect of artificial aging duration on mechanical properties of EN AW-7075-W_SAA&PB: (a) YS and UTS, and (b) f and PSE [25].
Effect of artificial aging duration on mechanical properties of EN AW-7075-W_SAA&PB: (a) YS and UTS, and (b) f and PSE [25].

Figure 21

Schematic diagram of thermoplastic treatment of 7075 and 7xxx_1 alloys (author’s own drawing based on [10]).
Schematic diagram of thermoplastic treatment of 7075 and 7xxx_1 alloys (author’s own drawing based on [10]).

Figure 22

Hardness measurements for EN AW-7075 samples subject to a two-step heat treatment [10].
Hardness measurements for EN AW-7075 samples subject to a two-step heat treatment [10].

Figure 23

Measured stress–strain curves of EN AW-7075 [10].
Measured stress–strain curves of EN AW-7075 [10].

Figure 24

Hardness measurements of aged 7xxx samples [10].
Hardness measurements of aged 7xxx samples [10].

Figure 25

(a) Cross section of U-shape profiles and (b) lower part of the corresponding forming tool [19].
(a) Cross section of U-shape profiles and (b) lower part of the corresponding forming tool [19].

Figure 26

Photo of the finished U shapes after forming [19].
Photo of the finished U shapes after forming [19].

Figure 27

Pre- and post-forming microstructure for the hot forming and WT-F processes [19].
Pre- and post-forming microstructure for the hot forming and WT-F processes [19].

Figure 28

The effect of natural aging time on the hardness of the alloy depending on the processing [19].
The effect of natural aging time on the hardness of the alloy depending on the processing [19].

Figure 29

Effect of natural aging and PB process on (a) YS and (b) elongation [19].
Effect of natural aging and PB process on (a) YS and (b) elongation [19].

Figure 30

Strain distribution and mechanical property test diagram of cap beam component under T4/PH-X%-PB treatment conditions [23]. (x1, x2) physical and strain distribution diagram, (x3, x4) mechanical property test diagram.
Strain distribution and mechanical property test diagram of cap beam component under T4/PH-X%-PB treatment conditions [23]. (x1, x2) physical and strain distribution diagram, (x3, x4) mechanical property test diagram.

Figure 31

(a) Dimensions of the tools and (b) comparison of springback profiles [20].
(a) Dimensions of the tools and (b) comparison of springback profiles [20].

Figure 32

Springback parameters depending on the condition of the 7075 alloy [20].
Springback parameters depending on the condition of the 7075 alloy [20].

Figure 33

Schematic diagram of thermoplastic treatment of 7075 (author’s own drawing based on [17]).
Schematic diagram of thermoplastic treatment of 7075 (author’s own drawing based on [17]).

Figure 34

Final properties of stamped parts (author’s own drawing based on [17]).
Final properties of stamped parts (author’s own drawing based on [17]).

Figure 35

(a) View of the lower part of the stamping tools and pillar strength test locations, (b) finished B-pillar, and (c) stress–strain curves of different parts of the B-pillar [12].
(a) View of the lower part of the stamping tools and pillar strength test locations, (b) finished B-pillar, and (c) stress–strain curves of different parts of the B-pillar [12].

Figure 36

Influence of tools correction on the final shape of B-pillar: (a) Before correction and (b) after correction [12].
Influence of tools correction on the final shape of B-pillar: (a) Before correction and (b) after correction [12].

Figure 37

Effect of post-forming heat treatments on UTS and PSE of formed parts (SAA – shortened artificial aging) [25].
Effect of post-forming heat treatments on UTS and PSE of formed parts (SAA – shortened artificial aging) [25].

Figure 38

Sampling positions of uniaxial tensile specimens [25].
Sampling positions of uniaxial tensile specimens [25].

Figure 39

Mechanical properties of Al 7075 sheet and stamped beam: (a) Strength and (b) elongation (author’s own drawing based on [26]).
Mechanical properties of Al 7075 sheet and stamped beam: (a) Strength and (b) elongation (author’s own drawing based on [26]).

Figure 40

Specific dimension of tooling with a flat-headed punch [27].
Specific dimension of tooling with a flat-headed punch [27].

Figure 41

Comparison of hole-expansion experimental result for EN AW-7075-T6 and EN AW-7075-W: (a) Punch force–displacement curves, (b) cup height, and (c) average expanded hole diameters in the RD of deformed specimens [27].
Comparison of hole-expansion experimental result for EN AW-7075-T6 and EN AW-7075-W: (a) Punch force–displacement curves, (b) cup height, and (c) average expanded hole diameters in the RD of deformed specimens [27].

Figure 42

Thickness strain variation onset of fracture of EN AW-7075-T6 and EN AW-7075-W [27].
Thickness strain variation onset of fracture of EN AW-7075-T6 and EN AW-7075-W [27].

Chemical composition of typical aluminum alloys for WT-F (%)_

AlloyZnMgCuFeCrSiMnTi
70755.1–6.12.1–2.91.2–2≤0.50.18–0.28≤0.4≤0.3≤0.2
70215–61.2–1.8≤0.25≤0.4≤0.05≤0.25≤0.1≤0.1
7xxx_17–81.2–1.81.3–20.080.040.060.040.06

Mechanical properties of typical aluminum alloys for WT-F_

AlloyDensity (kg/m3) R m (MPa) R p0.2 (MPa) A 50 (%)Hardness (HV1)
7075 T62,810540–570460–5008–12180–198
7021 T62,900400–490350–4208–11127–155
7xxx_12,800517–52548611–16127–155
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msp-2025-0043 | Journal eISSN: 2083-134X | Journal ISSN: 2083-1331
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Language: English
Page range: 79 - 106
Submitted on: Sep 14, 2025
|
Accepted on: Dec 11, 2025
|
Published on: Dec 31, 2025
Published by: Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Keywords:
Aluminum alloys,
Aluminum 7xxx,
W-temper,
Quenching,
Review
Related subjects:
Materials sciences,
Materials sciences, other,
Nanomaterials,
Functional and smart materials,
Materials characterization and properties

© 2025 Mateusz Skwarski, published by Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

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