6xxx aluminum alloys, and methods for producing the same
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsRajeev G. Kamat, John M. Newman, Ralph R. Sawtell, Jen C. Lin
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Abstract
New 6xxx aluminum alloy bodies and methods of producing the same are disclosed. The new 6xxx aluminum alloy bodies may be produced by preparing the aluminum alloy body for post-solutionizing cold work, cold working by at least 25%, and then thermally treating. The new 6xxx aluminum alloy bodies may realize improved strength and other properties.
Claims34
A method comprising:
- (a) preparing an aluminum alloy body having 0.1-2.0 wt. % silicon and 0.1-3.0 wt. % magnesium for post-solutionizing cold work;
- (i) wherein the preparing step comprises solutionizing of the aluminum alloy body;
- (ii) wherein at least one of the silicon and the magnesium is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy body other than aluminum;
- and
- (iii) wherein the aluminum alloy body contains sufficient solute to promote at least one of a strain hardening response and a precipitation hardening response to achieve a long-transverse tensile yield strength of at least 60 ksi;
- and
- (b) after the preparing step (a), cold working the aluminum alloy body by at least 50%;
- (c) after the cold working step (b), thermally treating the aluminum alloy body;
- wherein the cold working and the thermally treating steps are accomplished to achieve the at least 60 ksi long-transverse tensile yield strength and a long-transverse elongation of at least about 6%.
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20-21. (canceled)
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25-26. (canceled)
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A method comprising:
- (a) preparing an aluminum alloy body having 0.1-2.0 wt. % silicon and 0.1-3.0 wt. magnesium for post-solutionizing cold work;
- (i) wherein the preparing step comprises solutionizing of the aluminum alloy body;
- (ii) wherein at least one of the silicon and the magnesium is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy body other than aluminum;
- and
- (iii) wherein the aluminum alloy body includes at least one of the following:
- (A) at least 1.1 wt. % Mg;
- and
- (B) from 0.35 wt. % Cu to 2.0 wt. % Cu;
- and
- (C) from 0.35 wt. % Zn to 2.0 wt. % Zn;
- (b) after the preparing step (a), cold working the aluminum alloy body by at least 50%;
- (c) after the cold working step (b), thermally treating the aluminum alloy body;
- wherein the cold working and the thermally treating steps are accomplished to achieve an improved long-transverse tensile yield strength as compared the aluminum alloy body in the T6 temper.
An aluminum alloy body comprising 0.1-2.0 wt. % silicon and 0.1-3.0 wt. magnesium, wherein at least one of the silicon and the magnesium is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy body other than aluminum, and wherein the aluminum alloy body includes at least one of the following:
- (A) at least 1.1 wt. % Mg;
- and
- (B) from 0.35 wt. % Cu to 2.0 wt. % Cu;
- and
- (C) from 0.35 wt. % Zn to 2.0 wt. % Zn;
- wherein the aluminum alloy body is predominately unrecrystallized, and wherein the aluminum alloy body achieves a maximum normalized R-value of at least about 3.0.
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The aluminum alloy body of claim 35, wherein the aluminum alloy body is at least 75% unrecrystallized.
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A method comprising:
- (a) solutionizing an aluminum alloy body having 0.1-2.0 wt. % silicon and 0.1-3.0 wt. magnesium, wherein at least one of the silicon and the magnesium is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy body other than aluminum;
- (b) after the solutionizing step (a), cold working the aluminum alloy body by more than 50%;
- (i) wherein, after the cold working step (b), the aluminum alloy body is in its substantially final form;
- and
- (c) after the cold working step (b), thermally treating the aluminum alloy body;
- wherein the cold working and the thermally treating steps are accomplished to achieve an increase in long-transverse tensile yield strength as compared to a reference-version of the aluminum alloy body in the as cold-worked condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.