Abstract 

In this study the influence of natural aging in energy absorbance capacity of 6xxx series extruded profiles after artificial aging is examined by means of optical and scanning electron microscopy, quasi-static compression and tensile tests. Mobile quenched-in vacancies are found to play an important role in aging kinetics and formation of precipitate free zones (PFZs) which govern both the observed fracture modes and the resulting strength of the material signifying their important effect when maximum energy absorbance is desired. It is shown that fracture toughness of naturally aged samples is equivalent or higher compared to that of directly aged samples due to restriction of intergranular cracking.