Method for making deformed semi-finished products from aluminum-based alloys

A method for producing a deformed semi-finished product from an aluminum-based alloy, the method comprising:

• a) preparing an aluminum melt comprising:
• an iron content from 0.08 weight (wt.) % to 0.25 wt. %;
• a zirconium content of up to 0.26 wt. %;
• a silicon content from 0.05 wt. % to 11.5 wt. %;
• a magnesium content of less than 0.6 wt. %;
• and
• a strontium content of less than 0.02 wt. %, by wt. % of the aluminum-based alloy;
• b) producing the deformed semi-finished product having one of an intermediate cross-section or a final cross-section in one pass of hot rolling a continuous casting bar obtained from the aluminum melt, wherein:
• the continuous casting bar has a cross-section ranging from 1,080 mm2-2,820 mm2,
• the intermediate cross-section of the semi-finished product ranges from 340 mm2 to 960 mm2,
• the continuous casting bar is formed by an Al—Zr alloy with zirconium being included in an aluminum solid solution, a dissolution of the zirconium in the aluminum solid solution is achieved by raising the temperature of the Al—Zr alloy above liquidus and increasing the cooling rate of the continuous casting bar higher than 7 K/sec, the continuous casting bar has an initial casting bar temperature of at most 450° C.,
• the deformed semi-finished product has a degree of deformation comprising one in a range from 11% to 37% after the one pass of rolling;
• and
• c) extruding the deformed semi-finished product by passing the deformed semi-finished product through a die at a temperature range of 300° C. to 500° C.,
• wherein the structure of the deformed semi-finished product comprises an aluminum matrix having at least one eutectic particle with a transverse size of no more than 3 μm and selected alloying elements that are distributed, including a formation of a polygonised structure with an average sub-grain size of no more than 150 nm during the hot rolling and extrusion.