US 5,342,459 A · Aluminum alloy extruded and cold worked products having fine grain structure and their manufacture

Abstract

An aluminum alloy containing about 0.5 to 1.3% magnesium, about 0.4 to 1.2% silicon, about 0.6 to 1.2% copper, about 0.1 to 1% manganese, the balance substantially being aluminum along with impurities and incidental elements, is made into wrought wire, rod, bar or tube products by extrusion and cold working, preferably drawing, operations. The method includes extrusion within about 300.degree. or 400.degree. up to about 650.degree. or 700.degree. F. and even possibly up to 750.degree. or 800.degree. F. on a less preferred basis. Following extrusion, the product may be cold drawn either before or after, or both before and after, solution heat treatment and quenching. Rapid quenching is preferred. The product can then be artificially aged, for instance by heating to 375.degree. F. The resulting product has a fine grain size and consistent and good properties so as to be useful in a number of applications.

Claims39

Dependent claims

The method of producing an improved elongate aluminum alloy product comprising:

providing an alloy consisting essentially of about 0.5 to 1.3% magnesium, about 0.4 to 1.2% silicon, about 0.65 to 1.2% copper, about 0. 1 to 1% manganese, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities;
extruding a body of said alloy within about 400.degree. to about 750.degree. F. at an extrusion ratio of at least 5 to 1;
solution heat treating at a temperature of at least about 990.degree. F. and then quenching;
before or after or both before and after solution heat treating, cold working said alloy.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aluminum alloy extruded and cold worked products having fine grain structure and their manufacture

Life of this patent

Aluminum alloy extruded and cold worked products having fine grain structure and their manufacture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39