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US 2015/0020930 A1Published application
7xxx 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 7xxx aluminum alloy bodies and methods of producing the same are disclosed. The new 7xxx 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 7xxx aluminum alloy bodies may realize improved strength and other properties.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- (a) preparing an aluminum alloy strip for post-solutionizing cold work,
- (i) wherein the aluminum alloy strip includes 2.0-22 wt. % zinc, wherein the zinc is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy strip other than aluminum,
- (ii) wherein the preparing step comprises continuously casting the aluminum alloy strip, the continuously casting step comprising:
- (A) delivering molten aluminum metal comprising the 2.0-22 wt. % zinc, wherein the zinc is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy strip other than aluminum, to a pair of spaced apart rotating casting rolls defining a nip therebetween;
- (B) advancing the metal between surfaces of the casting device rolls, wherein the advance comprises:
- (I) first forming two solid outer regions adjacent surfaces of the casting device rolls;
- (II) second forming a semi-solid inner region containing dendrites of the metal;
- (III) wherein the inner region is located between the two outer concentration regions;
- (IV) wherein the first forming and second forming steps are completed concomitant to one another;
- (V) breaking the dendrites in the inner region at or before the nip;
- and
- (C) solidifying the semi-solid inner region to produce the aluminum alloy body comprised of the inner region and the outer regions;
- (iii) wherein the preparing step comprises solutionizing of the aluminum alloy strip;
- (b) after the preparing step (a), cold working the aluminum alloy strip by at least 25%;
- and
- (c) after the cold working step (b), thermally treating the aluminum alloy strip;
- 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.
14 more elements
A method comprising:
- (a) receiving an aluminum alloy body, wherein the aluminum alloy body comprises 2.0-22 wt. % zinc, wherein the zinc is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy body other than aluminum, wherein the aluminum alloy body was prepared by solutionizing, and then cold working, wherein the cold working induced at least 25% cold work in the aluminum alloy body, and then first thermally treating to achieve a first predetermined selected condition;
- (b) second thermally treating the aluminum alloy body;
- (i) wherein the second thermally treating step is accomplished to achieve a second predetermined selected condition, and such that the aluminum alloy body realizes a higher tensile yield strength over a reference version of the aluminum alloy body in the T6 temper.
A method comprising:
- (a) receiving a solutionized heat treatable aluminum alloy body, wherein the aluminum alloy body includes 2.0-22 wt. % zinc, wherein the zinc is the predominate alloying element of the aluminum alloy body other than aluminum, wherein the aluminum alloy body was prepared by solutionizing and then cold working, wherein the cold working induced at least 25% cold work in the aluminum alloy body;
- and
- (b) forming the aluminum alloy body into a predetermined shaped product, wherein, during the forming step, the aluminum alloy body is subjected to a temperature in the range of from at least 150° F. to below the recrystallization temperature of the aluminum alloy body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.