Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought 7xxx-series aluminium alloy product having a composition comprising, in wt. %, Zn 6.40 to 7.50, Mg 2.15 to 2.75, Cu 1.20 to 2.00, and wherein Cu+Mg<4.50, and wherein Mg<2.5+5/3(Cu?1.2), Fe up to 0.25, Si up to 0.25, and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: (Zr up to 0.3, Cr up to 0.3, Mn up to 0.45, Ti up to 0.25, Sc up to 0.5, Ag up to 0.5), the balance being aluminium and impurities, and having been aged to achieve a conventional tensile yield strength (in MPa) measured in the L-direction measured at quarter thickness of more than 485?0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought 7xxx-series aluminium alloy product having a composition comprising, in wt. %., Zn 6.20 to 7.50, Mg 2.15 to 2.75, Cu 1.20 to 2.00, and wherein Cu+Mg<4.50, and wherein Mg<2.5+5/3(Cu-1.2), Fe up to 0.25, Si up to 0.25, and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: (Zrup to 0.3,Crup to 0.3,Mnup to 0.45,Tiup to 0.25, Scup to 0.5, Agup to 0.5), the balance being aluminium and impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought 7xxx-series aluminium alloy product having a composition comprising, in wt. %., Zn 6.40 to 7.50, Mg 2.15 to 2.75, Cu 1.20 to 2.00, and wherein Cu+Mg<4.50, and wherein Mg<2.5+5/3(Cu?1.2), Fe up to 0.25, Si up to 0.25, and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: (Zr up to 0.3, Cr up to 0.3, Mn up to 0.45, Ti up to 0.25, Sc up to 0.5, Ag up to 0.5), the balance being aluminium and impurities, and having been aged to achieve a conventional tensile yield strength (in MPa) measured in the L-direction measured at quarter thickness of more than 485?0.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 25.4 mm, wherein the aluminum alloy plate is a 7xxx-series alloy provided in a W-temper; (b) optionally pre-machining of the aluminum alloy plate to an intermediate machined structure; (c) high-energy hydroforming of the plate or optional intermediate machined structure against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour in accordance with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high energy hydroforming causing the plate or the intermediate machined structure to conform to the contour of the forming surface to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature; (d) solution heat-treating and cooling of the high-energy hydroformed structure; (e) machining and (f) ageing of the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought 7xxx-series aluminium alloy product having a composition comprising, in wt. %., Zn 6.20 to 7.50, Mg 2.15 to 2.75, Cu 1.20 to 2.00, and wherein Cu+Mg<4.50, and wherein Mg<2.5+5/3(Cu-1.2), Fe up to 0.25, Si 0 up to 0.25, and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: (Zrup to 0.3,Crup to 0.3,Mnup to 0.45,Tiup to 0.25, Scup to 0.5, Agup to 0.5), the balance being aluminium and impurities.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure including providing an 7xxx-series aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 10 mm, and wherein the plate has been solution heat treated and stretched, heat-treating the plate product in a first of a plurality of artificial ageing steps required to achieve a final temper state, high-energy hydroforming the plate against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high energy forming causing the aluminum alloy plate to conform to the forming surface contour to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature, heat-treating the integrated monolithic aluminum structure through a remaining ageing step of the ageing steps to achieve a desired final temper, and machining the high-energy formed structure to a near-final or final machined integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the method includes the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 38.1 mm, wherein the aluminum alloy plate is a 7xxx-series alloy provided in an F-temper or an O-temper; (b) optionally pre-machining of the aluminum alloy plate to an intermediate machined structure; (c) high-energy hydroforming of the plate or optional intermediate machined structure against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour in accordance with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high-energy hydroforming causing the plate or the intermediate machined structure to conform to the contour of the forming surface to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature; (d) solution heat-treating and cooling of the high-energy hydroformed structure; (e) machining and (f) ageing of the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 3 mm, wherein the aluminum alloy plate is a 2xxx-series alloy provided in an F-temper or an O-temper; (b) optionally pre-machining of the aluminum alloy plate to an intermediate machined structure; (c) high-energy hydroforming of the plate or optional intermediate machined structure against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour in accordance with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high-energy hydroforming causing the plate or the intermediate machined structure to conform to the contour of the forming surface to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature; (d) solution heat-treating and cooling of the high-energy hydroformed structure; (e) machining and (f) ageing of the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: A method for continuously solution heat-treating aluminium alloy sheet by continuously moving heat-treatable 7000-series aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous heat-treatment furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 370° C. to 560° C., the continuous heat-treatment furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous heat-treatment furnace, and the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, and before or near the entry section of the continuous heat-treatment furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of the sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminum alloy automotive structural part or a body-in-white (BIW) part of a motor vehicle, including the steps of: providing a rolled aluminum alloy bare or composite sheet product having a gauge of about 0.5 mm to 4 mm, wherein the sheet product includes at least one layer an AA7xxx-series aluminum alloy, the sheet product having been subjected to solution heat treatment and quenching followed by at least 1 day of natural ageing; subjecting the naturally aged sheet product to reversion annealing treatment, namely a heat treatment at a temperature between 100° C. and 350° C. during 0.1 to 60 seconds; optionally subjecting the heated sheet product to forced cooling operation; within 2 hours, preferably within 30 minutes, from the reversion annealing treatment, forming the sheet product to obtain a three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part or body-in-white (BIW) part.

Abstract: This relates to an aluminum alloy product, in particular an age-hardenable Al—Zn—Mg type alloy product for structural members, the alloy product combining a high strength with high toughness and reduced quench sensitivity, and having a chemical composition including, in wt. %: Zn about 3 to 11%, Mg about 1 to 3%, Cu about 0.9 to 3%, Ge about 0.03 to 0.4%, Si max. 0.5%, Fe max. 0.5%, balance aluminum and normal and/or inevitable elements and impurities. Furthermore, this relates to a method of producing such aluminum alloy products.

Abstract: A method for continuously solution heat-treating aluminium alloy sheet by continuously moving heat-treatable 7000-series aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous heat-treatment furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 370° C. to 560° C., the continuous heat-treatment furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous heat-treatment furnace, and the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, and before or near the entry section of the continuous heat-treatment furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of the sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminum alloy structural part or a body-in-white (BIW) part of a motor vehicle. The method includes: providing a rolled aluminum sheet product wherein the aluminum alloy is an AA7000-series aluminum alloy and has a gauge in a range of 0.5-4 mm and is subjected to a solution heat treatment and has been cooled, forming the aluminum alloy sheet to obtain a three-dimensional formed part, heating the three-dimensional formed part to at least one pre-ageing temperature between 50-250° C., and subjecting the formed and pre-aged motor vehicle component to a paint bake cycle.

Abstract: A method for producing a joint in at least two overlapping metal work pieces using a joining tool to obtain a mechanical joint between the overlapping work pieces, in particular joining by mechanical folding or pressure joining At least one of the first work piece and second work piece is a sheet material made of an aluminum alloy of the AA7000-series. A heat-treatment is applied to at least the work piece of 7000-series sheet material within 120 minutes prior to the production of the joint and/or for at least part of the time during production of the joint to temporarily reduce the tensile strength in the joining area of at least the work piece of said 7000-series sheet material.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy rolled sheet product for forming into automotive body panels, and having a yield strength of more than 160 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle, and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm, and preferably 0.7 to 3.5 mm, and having a composition of, in wt. %: Zn 1.5 to 4.0, Mg 0.3 to 1.5, Cu 0 to 1.0, Ti 0 to 0.15, Fe 0 to 0.35, Si 0 to 0.5, other elements and unavoidable impurities, and balance aluminum. An automotive body part formed from such an aluminum sheet. A method of manufacturing an automotive body part. Also, the use of the aluminum alloy sheet product in such a method of manufacturing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminium alloy automotive structural part or a body-in-white (BIW) part of a motor vehicle, including the steps of: providing a rolled aluminium alloy bare or composite sheet product having a gauge of about 0.5 mm to 4 mm, wherein the sheet product includes at least one layer an AA7xxx-series aluminium alloy, the sheet product having been subjected to solution heat treatment and quenching followed by at least 1 day of natural ageing; subjecting the naturally aged sheet product to reversion annealing treatment, namely a heat treatment at a temperature between 100° C. and 350° C. during 0.1 to 60 seconds; optionally subjecting the heated sheet product to forced cooling operation; within 2 hours, preferably within 30 minutes, from the reversion annealing treatment, forming the sheet product to obtain a three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part or body-in-white (BIW) part.

Abstract: This relates to an aluminum alloy product, in particular an age-hardenable Al—Zn—Mg type alloy product for structural members, the alloy product combining a high strength with high toughness and reduced quench sensitivity, and having a chemical composition including, in wt. %: Zn about 3 to 11%, Mg about 1 to 3%, Cu about 0.9 to 3%, Ge about 0.03 to 0.4%, Si max. 0.5%, Fe max. 0.5%, balance aluminum and normal and/or inevitable elements and impurities. Furthermore, this relates to a method of producing such aluminum alloy products.

Abstract: A method for producing a joint in at least two overlapping metal work pieces using a joining tool to obtain a mechanical joint between the overlapping work pieces, in particular joining by mechanical folding or pressure joining At least one of the first work piece and second work piece is a sheet material made of an aluminum alloy of the AA7000-series. A heat-treatment is applied to at least the work piece of 7000-series sheet material within 120 minutes prior to the production of the joint and/or for at least part of the time during production of the joint to temporarily reduce the tensile strength in the joining area of at least the work piece of said 7000-series sheet material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminium alloy body-in-white (“BIW”) part of a motor vehicle, the BIW part having a yield strength of more than 500 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle. The method includes providing a rolled aluminium sheet product of an AlZnMgCu alloy and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm and subjected to a solution heat treatment (SHT) and quenched following SHT, and wherein the SHT and quenched aluminium sheet product has a substantially recrystallized microstructure, forming the aluminium alloy sheet to obtain a formed BIW part, assembling the formed BIW part with one or more other metal parts to form an assembly forming a motor vehicle component, subjecting the motor vehicle component to a paint bake cycle, wherein the aluminium alloy sheet in the formed BIW part has a yield strength of more than 500 MPa.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminum alloy body-in-white (“BIW”) part of a motor vehicle, the BIW part having a yield strength of more than 500 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle. The method includes (a) providing a rolled aluminum sheet product of an AlZnMgCu alloy and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm and subjected to a solution heat treatment (SHT) and quenched following SHT, and wherein the SHT and quenched aluminum sheet product has a substantially recrystallized microstructure, (b) forming the aluminum alloy sheet to obtain a formed BIW part, (c) assembling the formed BIW part with one or more other metal parts to form an assembly forming a motor vehicle component, (d) subjecting the motor vehicle component to a paint bake cycle, wherein the aluminum alloy sheet in the formed BIW part has a yield strength of more than 500 MPa.