Abstract: A process for thermally treating an article made from an alloy comprising at least aluminum and copper. The process comprises solid solution heat treating the article, quenching the article, heating the article to a first temperature of from about 275 to about 340° F. and artificially aging. The article is artificially aged at the first temperature for a duration of at least 30 minutes. The article is artificially aged at a second temperature of from about 325 to about 380° F. for a duration of from about 4 hours to about 36 hours. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature by at least 10° F.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brazing sheet comprising an aluminum 3xxx series core alloy wherein at least one side thereof is provided with an aluminum clad material comprising from 0.7-2.0% Mn, 1.3-3.0% Zn, 0.05 Mg max, and 0.05-0.4% Cu. In one embodiment another side of the core is provided with an aluminum alloy comprising at least 5.5% Si. There are further provided methods for preparing brazing sheets as described herein as well as methods for use of brazing sheet materials including as tube stock and as heat exchangers, as well as other applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brazing sheet comprising an aluminum 3xxx series core alloy wherein at least one side thereof is provided with an aluminum clad material comprising from 0.7-2.0% Mn and 0.7-3.0.0% Zn, wherein the clad is capable of being used as an Inner-liner of a heat exchange product. In one embodiment one side of the core alloy is provided a material that comprises from 0.7-2.0% Mn and 0.7-3.0% Zn and the other side of the core is provided with an aluminum alloy comprising at least 5.5% Si. Thee are further provided methods for preparing brazing sheets as described herein as well as methods for use of brazing sheet materials including as tube stock and as heat exchangers, as well as other applications.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy having improved strength and ductility, comprising: Cu 3.5-5.8 wt. %, Mg 0.1-1.8 wt. % Mn 0.1-0.8 wt. % Ag 0.2-0.8 wt. % Ti 0.02-0.12 wt. % and optionally one or more selected from the group consisting of Cr 0.1-0.8 wt. %, Hf 0.1-1.0 wt. %, Sc 0.03-0.6 wt. %, and V 0.05-0.15 wt. %. balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities, and wherein the alloy is substantially zirconium-free.

Abstract: A process for thermally treating an article made from an alloy comprising at least aluminum and copper. The process comprises solid solution heat treating the article, quenching the article, heating the article to a first temperature of from about 275 to about 340° F. and artificially aging. The article is artificially aged at the first temperature for a duration of at least 30 minutes. The article is artificially aged at a second temperature of from about 325 to about 380° F. for a duration of from about 4 hours to about 36 hours. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature by at least 10° F.

Abstract: An improved aluminum lithium alloy comprising 0.1 to 2.5 wt. % Li, 2.5 to 5.5 wt. % Cu, 0.2 to 1.0 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.8 wt. % Ag, 0.2 to 0.8 wt. % Mn, up to 0.4 wt. % Zr or other grain refiner such as chromium, titanium, hafnium, scandium or vanadium, the balance aluminum. The present alloy exhibits an improved combination of strength and fracture toughness, over any thickness range. The present invention is further directed to methods for preparing and using Al—Li alloys as well as to products comprising the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a material package comprising a housing, at least one piece of scrap material contained in the housing, wherein the weight of the housing is from 1 to 5% of the weight of said scrap material, and the housing and the scrap material have melting points that are greater than about 300° F. The present invention further relates to associated methods and products employed with material packages as well as meltable housings, per se.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy brazing sheet material, particularly suitable for charge air cooler applications, comprising a core alloy and a clad brazing alloy, as well as to methods for their manufacture and use. The present invention also provides a method for increasing the yield strength of brazing sheet materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides aluminum alloys and layers formed in aluminum alloys as well as methods for their manufacture. Aluminum alloys of the present invention are provided with at least one discrete layer of uncrystallized grains formed therein. Alloys of the present invention can be formed, for example, by a process that includes a final partial anneal that permits softening of the material to essentially an O-temper condition. Processes of the present invention recrystallized substantially the entire material by leave a discrete layer of preferably less than 50 microns of the material unrecrystallized. In preferred embodiments, the aluminum material is a core material that is clad on one or both sides and the discrete unrecrystallized layer forms at the boundary between the clad and the core.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brazing sheet comprising an aluminum 3xxx series core alloy, wherein at least one side thereof is provided with an aluminum clad material comprising 0.7-2.0% Mn and 0.7-3.0% Zn, wherein the clad is capable of being used as an inner-liner of a heat exchanger product. In one embodiment, one side of the core alloy is provided with a material that comprises 0.7-2.0% Mn and 0.7-3.0% Zn and the other side of the core is provided with an aluminum alloy comprising at least 5.5% Si. There are further provided methods for preparing brazing sheets as described herein as well as methods for use of brazing sheet materials including as tube stock and as heat exchangers, as well as other applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides aluminum alloys and layers formed in aluminum alloys as well as methods for their manufacture. Aluminum alloys of the present invention are provided with at least one discrete layer of uncrystallized grains formed therein.

Abstract: A process for thermally treating an article made from an aluminum alloy. The process comprises providing the aluminum alloy that consists essentially of from about 5.7 to about 6.7 wt. % of zinc, less than 2.2 wt. % copper, less than 4.2 wt. % of the total weight percent of magnesium and copper combined, and less than 10.60 wt. % of the total weight percent of magnesium, copper and zinc combined, the balance being substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. The article is artificially aged at a first temperature. The article is heated to a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. The article is artificially aged at the second temperature of from about 290 to about 360° F. for a duration of at least 6 hours. The article is cooled from the second temperature to 200° F. at a cooling rate of from about 20 to about 40° F./hour.

Abstract: Aluminum sheets and methods for manufacturing aluminum sheets are provided. The present invention involves control of processing conditions in order to achieve a fine grain size (i.e. ASTM rating of 8.5 or greater) in the material prior to a final cold working operation. Also included within the scope of the present invention are products having a fine grain size which have strength levels above what can be obtained in 5××× alloys.

Abstract: Non-directional and diffuse reflecting photometric properties may be imbued to a metal sheet stock, particularly aluminum alloy sheet stock, by directly creating a textured surface on one or more surfaces of the sheet stock through mechanical texturing with at least one textured work roll in a cold roll reducing mill. A textured metal sheet surface thus produced is characterized by having over its entire surface randomly formed imbricated depressions transversely arranged, such that each depression has a substantially transverse width dimension relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheet and a longitudinal dimension greater than its width. The depressions formed are substantially equiaxial. Surface properties of both the textured work roll and the textured metal sheet may be controlled. The metal sheet stock are subjected to finishing steps such as chemical brightening and anodizing, or organic coating to provide lighting sheets with high total reflectance.

Abstract: Non-directional and diffuse reflecting photometric properties may be imbued to a metal sheet stock, particularly aluminum alloy sheet stock, by directly creating a textured surface on one or more surfaces of the sheet stock through mechanical texturing with at least one textured work roll in a cold roll reducing mill. A textured metal sheet surface thus produced is characterized by having over its entire surface randomly formed imbricated depressions transversely arranged, such that each depression has a substantially transverse width dimension relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheet and a longitudinal dimension greater than its width. The depressions formed are substantially equiaxial. Surface properties of both the textured work roll and the textured metal sheet may be controlled. The metal sheet stock are subjected to finishing steps such as chemical brightening and anodizing, or organic coating to provide lighting sheets with high total reflectance.