US 8,980,439 B2 · Bimetallic forging and method

Abstract

A method of forming a bimetallic forging includes providing a blank comprising at least a first element and a second element of a first metal, and an insert of a second metal. A blank is configured such that the insert may be substantially encapsulated by a shell defined by the first element and the second element. The blank is forged to form a bimetallic forging including an outer portion defined by the shell, an inner portion defined by the insert, and an interface layer therebetween. In a non-limiting example, the first metal is substantially comprised of aluminum and the second metal is substantially comprised of magnesium. In a non-limiting example, the blank may be forged to form a vehicle wheel including an aluminum skin substantially encapsulating a magnesium inner portion, providing wheel with a high strength to weight ratio and improved corrosion performance.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of forming a bimetallic forging, the method comprising:

providing a first element substantially made of a first metal;
providing a second element substantially made of the first metal;
providing an insert substantially made of a second metal;
forming a blank comprised of the first element, the second element, and the insert portion;
wherein the blank is configured such that:
the insert is substantially encapsulated by a shell defined by the first element and the second element;
joining the first element and the second element by friction stir welding to form a seam defined by a fine grained microstructure such that the seam is characterized by a higher fatigue strength relative to the remainder of the shell;
and
forging the blank to form a forging comprising:
an outer portion substantially made of the first metal and defined by the shell;
an inner portion substantially made of the second metal and defined by the insert;
and
an interface layer defining a metallurgical bond between the outer portion and the inner portion.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bimetallic forging and method

Life of this patent

Bimetallic forging and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16