Methods of cold forming aluminum lithium alloys

A method comprising:

• (a) prior to solution heat treatment, heating an unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product to a treatment temperature, wherein the treatment temperature is at least 750° F. but below a solidus temperature of the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product;
• (i) wherein the heating comprises heating the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product from a pretreatment temperature to the treatment temperature at a heating rate of from 10° F. per minute to not greater than 100° F. per minute;
• and
• (ii) wherein the heating comprises holding the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product at the treatment temperature for a period of time sufficient to dissolve a predominate amount of precipitate phase particles but without recrystallizing the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product;
• and
• (b) cooling the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product from the treatment temperature to a post-treatment temperature and at a cooling rate of not greater than 500° F./minute.