Abstract: A rotating magnet heater for metal products, such as aluminum strip, can include permanent magnet rotors arranged above and below a moving metal strip to induce moving or time varying magnetic fields through the metal strip. The changing magnetic fields can create currents (e.g., eddy currents) within the metal strip, thus heating the metal strip. A magnetic rotor set can include a pair of matched magnetic rotors on opposite sides of a metal strip that rotate at the same speed. Each magnetic rotor of a set can be positioned equidistance from the metal strip to avoid pulling the metal strip away from the passline. A downstream magnetic rotor set can be used in close proximity to an upstream magnetic rotor set to offset tension induced by the upstream magnetic rotor set.

Abstract: A rotating magnet heater for metal products, such as aluminum strip, can include permanent magnet rotors arranged above and below a moving metal strip to induce moving or time varying magnetic fields through the metal strip. The changing magnetic fields can create currents (e.g., eddy currents) within the metal strip, thus heating the metal strip. A magnetic rotor set can include a pair of matched magnetic rotors on opposite sides of a metal strip that rotate at the same speed. Each magnetic rotor of a set can be positioned equidistance from the metal strip to avoid pulling the metal strip away from the passline. A downstream magnetic rotor set can be used in close proximity to an upstream magnetic rotor set to offset tension induced by the upstream magnetic rotor set.

Abstract: Disclosed are aluminum alloy products and methods of making and processing such products. Thus, disclosed are aluminum alloy products exhibiting controllable surface properties, including excellent bond durability, low contact resistance, and corrosion resistance. Aluminum alloy products described herein include a migrant element, a subsurface portion having a concentration of the migrant element, and a bulk portion having a concentration of the migrant element. The aluminum alloy product comprises an enrichment ratio of 4.0 or less, wherein the enrichment ratio is a ratio of the migrant element concentration in the subsurface portion to the concentration in the bulk portion. Additionally, the aluminum alloy products surface and/or subsurface can contain phosphorus (e.g., elemental phosphorus or oxidized phosphorus). The phosphorus containing surface provides reduced electronic stress on an electrode tip of a resistance spot welding apparatus, and an extended service lifetime (e.g.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy products having a bulk and a micro-grained subsurface structure are described. The aluminum alloy products may exhibit superior bonding character and may comprise or have a silicon-containing layer thereon. The bulk may include a matrix including grains of an aluminum alloy and may comprise aluminum and one or more alloying elements such as zinc, magnesium, copper, chromium, silicon, iron, or manganese. The micro-grained subsurface structure may be substantially devoid of one or more defects (e.g., voids, transfer cracks, or fissures) or organics, oils, hydrocarbons, soils, inorganic residues, rolled-in oxides, or anodic oxides, which may commonly be present in rolled near-surface microstructures. The micro-grained subsurface structure may include or have thereon a first oxide layer having a thickness of from 1 nm to 20 nm. Methods of making aluminum alloy products are also described.

Abstract: Described are methods of treating surfaces of metal alloy substrates and associated metal alloy products. The methods may include providing an aluminum alloy product having a bulk and a surface and scanning abeam of high energy across the surface. The method may further include applying a liquid layer onto the surface prior to scanning a beam of high energy. The beam of high energy may interact with the surface and/or the liquid layer to form a treated surface. The beam of high energy may interact with the surface and/or the liquid layer to physically modify the at least a portion of the aluminum alloy product to form a treated sub-surface layer.

Abstract: A method for electropolishing a metal substrate comprises submerging at least part of the metal substrate in an electrolyte solution and applying electrical current to the metal substrate to form an electrical circuit where the metal substrate is the anode. The electrolyte solution comprises phosphoric acid and at least one acrylic monomer and/or acrylic polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are aluminum alloy products and methods of making and processing such products. Thus, disclosed are aluminum alloy products exhibiting controllable surface properties, including excellent bond durability, low contact resistance, and corrosion resistance. Aluminum alloy products described herein include a migrant element, a subsurface portion having a concentration of the migrant element, and a bulk portion having a concentration of the migrant element. The aluminum alloy product comprises an enrichment ratio of 4.0 or less, wherein the enrichment ratio is a ratio of the migrant element concentration in the subsurface portion to the concentration in the bulk portion. Additionally, the aluminum alloy products surface and/or subsurface can contain phosphorus (e.g., elemental phosphorus or oxidized phosphorus). The phosphorus containing surface provides reduced electronic stress on an electrode tip of a resistance spot welding apparatus, and an extended service lifetime (e.g.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides aluminum alloy articles having improved bond durability at certain surfaces of the article. The disclosure also provides methods of making such materials, for example, via a selective etching process, as well as methods of using such articles in applications that involve bonding the article to other articles, such as other aluminum articles. The disclosure also provides articles of manufacture made from such articles, including bonded aluminum articles. The disclosure also provides aluminum alloy articles having an inert or neutralized surface. The inert or neutralized surfaces described herein are characterized by surfaces containing oxidized copper. Also described herein are methods including etching a surface of the aluminum alloy articles with an oxidant. The resulting aluminum alloy articles exhibit desirable bond durability properties and exceptional corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A rotating magnet heater for metal products, such as aluminum strip, can include permanent magnet rotors arranged above and below a moving metal strip to induce moving or time varying magnetic fields through the metal strip. The changing magnetic fields can create currents (e.g., eddy currents) within the metal strip, thus heating the metal strip. A magnetic rotor set can include a pair of matched magnetic rotors on opposite sides of a metal strip that rotate at the same speed. Each magnetic rotor of a set can be positioned equidistance from the metal strip to avoid pulling the metal strip away from the passline. A downstream magnetic rotor set can be used in close proximity to an upstream magnetic rotor set to offset tension induced by the upstream magnetic rotor set.

Abstract: A method for electropolishing a metal substrate comprises submerging at least part of the metal substrate in an electrolyte solution and applying electrical current to the metal substrate to form an electrical circuit where the metal substrate is the anode. The electrolyte solution comprises phosphoric acid and at least one acrylic monomer and/or acrylic polymer.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic coating solutions containing a water soluble divalent zinc compound, a complex fluoride compound, and an organic inhibitor for improving the corrosion resistance and adhesive bonding characteristics of aluminum, aluminum alloys, anodic coatings and sacrificial coatings, are disclosed. Suitable organic inhibitors include oximes, such as salicylaldoxime, and/or quinolines, particularly 8-hydroxyquinoline, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Aqueous acidic coating solutions containing a water soluble divalent zinc compound, a complex fluoride compound, and an organic inhibitor for improving the corrosion resistance and adhesive bonding characteristics of aluminum, aluminum alloys, anodic coatings and sacrificial coatings, are disclosed. Suitable organic inhibitors include oximes, such as salicylaldoxime, and/or quinolines, particularly 8-hydroxyquinoline, and mixtures thereof.