US 5,332,456 A · Superplastic aluminum-based alloy material and production process thereof

Abstract

A superplastic aluminum-based alloy material consisting of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of the main alloying element (i.e., the matrix element) and the other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, the particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m. The superplastic aluminum-based alloy material is produced from a rapidly solidified material consisting of an amorphous phase, a microcrystalline phase or a mixed phase thereof by optionally heat treating the material at a prescribed temperature for a prescribed period of time and then subjecting it to a single or combined thermomechanical treatment. The superplastic aluminum-based alloy material of the present invention is suited for superplastic working.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A superplastic aluminum-based alloy material consisting of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of a main alloying element making up the matrix and other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, said particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m and said superplastic aluminum-based alloy material exhibiting a large elongation at high strain rates of 10.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 or larger and consisting of a composition represented by the general formula:

Al.sub.a M.sub.1b X.sub.e, wherein M.sub.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Mo;
X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Hf, Ta, Y, Zr, Ti, rare earth elements and a mixture of rare earth elements;
and a, b and e are in atomic percentages, 75.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.97, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.10.

A process for producing a superplastic aluminum-based alloy material which exhibits a large elongation at high strain rates of 10.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 or larger, the process comprising:

forming an aluminum-based alloy consisting of an amorphous phase, a microcrystalline phase or a mixed phase thereof by rapidly quenching an alloy material having a particular composition, said particular composition being represented by the general formula:
Al.sub.a M.sub.1b X.sub.e, wherein M.sub.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Mo;
X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Hf, Ta, Y, Zr, Ti, rare earth elements and a mixture of rare earth elements;
and a, b and e are, in atomic percentages, 75.ltoreq.a .ltoreq.97, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.10;
optionally, heat treating the aluminum-based alloy;
and
subjecting the aluminum-based alloy to a single or combined thermo-mechanical treatment to provide a material having a microstructure suitable for superplastic working, in which said microstructure consists of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of a main alloying element making up the matrix and other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, said particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m.

4 more elements

A process for producing a superplastic aluminum-based alloy material which exhibits a large elongation at high strain rates of 10.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 or larger, the process comprising:

forming an aluminum-based alloy consisting of an amorphous phase, a microcrystalline phase or a mixed phase thereof by rapidly quenching an alloy material having a particular composition, said particular composition being represented by the general formula:
Al.sub.a M.sub.a(b-c) M.sub.2c X.sub.e, wherein M.sub.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Mo;
M.sub.2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr and W;
X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Hf, Ta, Y, Zr, Ti, rare earth elements and a mixture of rare earth elements;
and a, b, c and e are, in atomic percentages, 75.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.97, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.15, 0.1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.5 and 0.5.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.10;
optionally, heat treating the aluminum-based alloy;
and
subjecting the aluminum-based alloy to a single or combined thermo-mechanical treatment to provide a material having a microstructure suitable for superplastic working, in which said microstructure consists of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of a main alloying element making up the matrix and other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, said particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m.

5 more elements

A process for producing a superplastic aluminum-based alloy material exhibiting a large elongation at high strain rates of 10.sup.-1 s.sup.-1 or larger, the process comprising:

forming an aluminum-based alloy consisting of an amorphous phase or a mixed phase of an amorphous phase and a microcrystalline phase by rapidly quenching an alloy material having a particular composition, said particular composition being represented by the general formula:
Al.sub.a M.sub.1b X.sub.e, wherein M.sub.1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Mo;
X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Hf, Ta, Y, Zr, Ti, rare earth elements and a mixture of rare earth elements;
and a, b and e are, in atomic percentages 75.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.97, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.10;
heat treating the aluminum-based alloy at the crystallization temperature, Tx, +100.+-.50.degree. C. for 0.5 to 5 hours;
and
subjecting the aluminum-based alloy to a single or combined thermo-mechanical treatment at the crystallization temperature, Tx, .+-.150.degree. C. for 0.1 to 1 hour to provide a material having a microstructure suitable for superplastic molding, in which said microstructure consists of a matrix formed of aluminum or a supersaturated aluminum solid solution, whose average crystal grain size is 0.005 to 1 .mu.m, and particles made of a stable or metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed of a main alloying element making up the matrix and the alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of a main alloying element making up the matrix and other alloying elements and/or of various intermetallic compounds formed of the other alloying elements and distributed evenly in the matrix, said particles having a mean particle size of 0.001 to 0.1 .mu.m.