High strength forged aluminum alloy products
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsDustin M. Bush, Edward L. Colvin, Roberto J. Rioja, Ralph R. Sawtell
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Abstract
High strength forged aluminum alloys and methods for producing the same are disclosed. The forged aluminum alloy products may have grains having a high aspect ratio in at least two planes, generally the L-ST and the LT-ST planes. The forged aluminum alloy products may also have a high amount of texture. The forged products may realize increased strength relative to conventionally prepared forged products of comparable product form, composition and temper.
Claims15
A forged aluminum alloy product comprising a crystalline microstructure having grains, wherein the grains include first type grains and second type grains, wherein the crystalline microstructure comprises from about 5 vol. % to about 50 vol. % of the first type grains, wherein the first type grains at least include representative first grains, and wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 3.5:1 in the LT-ST plane.
A method comprising:
- (a) extruding an aluminum alloy into an extruded product, wherein the extruded product has an extruded maximum ODF intensity;
- (b) forging the extruded product into a forged product, wherein the forging comprises:
- (i) hot working the extruded product into the forged product;
- and
- (ii) solution heat treating the forged product;
- wherein, after the solution heat treating step, the forged product realizes a maximum ODF intensity that is at least equivalent to the extruded maximum ODF intensity.
A forged product made of a 7x55 aluminum alloy, wherein the forged product realizes at least about 5% higher tensile yield strength in the longitudinal (L) direction relative to a conventionally-forged aluminum alloy product of comparable product form, composition and temper.
The forged product of claim 14, wherein the product first type grains, wherein the first type grains include representative first grains, and wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 in the LT-ST plane.
The forged product of claim 15, wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 9:1 in the L-ST plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.