Magnesium Containing Patents (Class 148/417)
  • Publication number: 20150129090
    Abstract: Extrudeable Al—Mg—Si aluminium alloy with improved strength, corrosion resistance, crush properties and temperature stability, in particular useful in or close to the front part of vehicles. The composition of the alloy is defined within the following coordinate points of an Mg—Si diagram: a1-a2-a3-a4, where in wt % a1=0.60 Mg, 0.65Si, a2=0.90Mg, 1.0Si, a3=1.05Mg, 0.75Si and a4=0.70Mg, 0.50Si and where the alloy has a non-recrystallised grain structure in the extruded profile containing in addition the following alloy components in wt %: Fe up to 0.30 Cu 0.1-0.4 Mn 0.4-1.0 Cr up to 0.25 Zr up to 0.25 and Ti 0.005-0.15 incidental impurities up to 0.1 each and including Zn up to 0.5 with balance Al.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Ulf Tundal, Oddvin Reiso, Svein Roger Skjervold, Angela Dawne Kubiak
  • Patent number: 8999079
    Abstract: New 6xxx aluminum alloy bodies and methods of producing the same are disclosed. The new 6xxx aluminum alloy bodies may be produced by preparing the aluminum alloy body for post-solutionizing cold work, cold working by at least 25%, and then thermally treating. The new 6xxx aluminum alloy bodies may realize improved strength and other properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev G. Kamat, John M. Newman, Ralph R. Sawtell, Jen C. Lin
  • Publication number: 20150068649
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shangping CHEN, Linzhong ZHUANG, Sunil KHOSLA, Hugo VAN SCHOONEVELT, Andrew NORMAN, Achim BURGER
  • Publication number: 20150059934
    Abstract: An Al—Zn—Mg—Cu-based high-strength aluminum alloy thin extruded shape has a yield strength of 700 MPa or more. The high-strength aluminum alloy thin extruded shape includes 9.0 to 13.0 mass % of Zn, 2.0 to 3.0 mass % of Mg, 1.0 to 2.0 mass % of Cu, and 0.05 to 0.3 mass % of Zr, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, fine precipitates having a circle equivalent diameter of 5 to 20 nm being dispersed in a crystal grain of the extruded shape in a number of 4000 to 6000 per ?m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshifumi SHINZATO, Hidenori HATTA
  • Publication number: 20150007910
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy wire, having an alloy composition which contains: 0.01 to 1.2 mass % of Fe, 0.1 to 1.0 mass % of Mg, and 0.1 to 1.0 mass % of Si, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, in which a grain size is 1 to 30 ?m, and in which a dispersion density of Mg2Si needle precipitate in the aluminum alloy is 10 to 200/?m2; and a method of producing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicants: FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC., FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeki SEKIYA, Kyota SUSAI
  • Publication number: 20140367001
    Abstract: Provided is an aluminum alloy forged material comprising an excess amount of Si and a large quantity of a strength-increasing element such as Cu or Mn, and by which high strength and high toughness can be stably obtained even if the forged material is thinned, and also provided is a method for producing the same. A forged material constituted from an aluminum alloy which contains prescribed quantities of Mg, Si, Cu, Fe, Ti and B and further contains one or more elements selected from among Mn, Cr and Zr, with the remainder comprising Al and inevitable impurities, wherein the electrical conductivity measured at 20° C. on the surface of the aluminum alloy is greater than 42.5% IACS but not more than 46.0% IACS, and the forged aluminum alloy material has 0.2% proof stress of 360 MPa or more and Charpy impact value of 6 J/cm2 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yoshiya Inagaki, Masayuki Hori
  • Patent number: 8877123
    Abstract: The invention relates to an age-hardenable aluminium alloy product for structural members having a chemical composition including, in wt. %: Cu about 3.6 to 6.0%, Mg about 0.15 to 1.2%, Ge about 0.15 to 1.1%, Si about 0.1 to 0.8%, Fe<0.25%, balance aluminium and normal and/or inevitable elements and impurities. Zn, Ag and/or Ni may or may not be present. A typical range for Zn is <0.3 or, in a further embodiment about 0.3 to 1.3%. A typical range for Ag is <0.1 or, in a further embodiment about 0.1 to 1.0%. Products made from this aluminium alloy product are very suitable for aerospace applications. The alloy can be processed to various product forms, e.g. sheet, thin plate, thick plate, extruded or forged products. Products made from this alloy can be used also as a cast product, ideally as die-cast product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aleris Aluminum Koblenz GmbH
    Inventors: Linzhong Zhuang, Shangping Chen, Andrew Norman
  • Publication number: 20140290809
    Abstract: The aluminum alloy forged material for an automobile according to the present invention is composed of an aluminum alloy including Si: 0.7-1.5 mass %, Fe: 0.5 mass % or less, Cu: 0.1-0.6 mass %, Mg: 0.6-1.2 mass %, Ti: 0.01-0.1 mass % and Mn: 0.25-1.0 mass %, further including at least one element selected from Cr: 0.1-0.4 mass % and Zr: 0.01-0.2 mass %, restricting Zn: 0.05 mass % or less, and a hydrogen amount: 0.25 ml/100 g-Al or less, with the remainder being Al and inevitable impurities, wherein the aluminum alloy forged material has an area ratio the <111> texture of 60% or more in a cross section parallel to the extrusion direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Masayuki HORI, Yoshiya Inagaki, Manabu Nakai
  • Patent number: 8845827
    Abstract: The present application discloses wrought 2xxx Al—Li alloy products that are work insensitive. The wrought aluminum alloy products generally include from about 2.75 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. % Cu, from about 0.2 wt. % to about 0.8 wt. % Mg, where the ratio of copper-to-magnesium ratio (Cu/Mg) in the aluminum alloy is in the range of from about 6.1 to about 17, from about 0.1 wt. % to 1.10 wt. % Li, from about 0.3 wt. % to about 2.0 wt. % Ag, from 0.50 wt. % to about 1.5 wt. % Zn, up to about 1.0 wt. % Mn, the balance being aluminum, optional incidental elements, and impurities. The wrought aluminum alloy products may realize a low strength differential and in a short aging time due to their work insensitive nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Cagatay Yanar, Roberto J. Rioja, Jen C. Lin, Ralph R. Sawtell
  • Publication number: 20140283958
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy comprising 2.1 to 2.8 wt. % Cu, 1.1 to 1.7 wt. % Li, 0.1 to 0.8 wt. % Ag, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mn, a content of Fe and Si less or equal to 0.1 wt. % each, and a content of unavoidable impurities less than or equal to 0.05 wt. % each and 0.15 wt. % total, and the alloy being substantially zirconium free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Constellium France
    Inventors: Bernard BES, Herve RIBES, Christophe SIGLI, Timothy WARNER
  • Publication number: 20140209223
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy member resistant to cracking and having high strengths and excellent stress corrosion cracking resistance is manufactured by crushing a 7xxx aluminum alloy extrudate. Specifically, a 7xxx aluminum alloy extrudate containing Zn of 3.0-8.0%, Mg of 0.4-2.5%, Cu of 0.05-2.0%, and Ti of 0.005-0.2%, in mass percent, and prepared through press quenching is subjected to a reversion treatment, to crushing within 72 hours after the reversion treatment, and then to aging. The reversion treatment includes heating at a temperature use rate of 0.4° C./second or more, holding in a temperature range of 200-550° C. for longer than 0 second, and cooling at a rate of 0.5° C./second or more. The ratio of the tensile residual stress ?rs to the 0.2% yield stress ?0.2 after aging and the total content X of Mg and Zn satisfy a condition specified by Expression (1): Y??0.1 X+1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Narikazu HASHIMOTO, Takahiro SHIKAMA, Tsunetake TSUYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20140209222
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy member resistant to cracking and having high strengths and excellent stress corrosion cracking resistance is manufactured by expanding a 7xxx aluminum alloy hollow extrusion at a rate of 5% or more. Specifically, a 7xxx aluminum alloy hollow extrusion containing Zn of 3.0-9.5%, Mg of 0.4-2.5%, Cu of 0.05-2.0%, and Ti of 0.005-0.2%, in mass percent, and prepared through press quenching is subjected to a reversion treatment, to pipe expansion within 72 hours after the reversion treatment, and to temper aging. The reversion treatment includes heating at a temperature rise rate of 0.4° C./second or more, holding in a temperature range of 200-550° C. for longer than 0 second, and cooling at a rate of 0.5° C./second or more. The ratio Y (?rs/?0.2) of the tensile residual stress ?rs to the 0.2% yield stress ?0.2 after temper aging and the total content X of Mg and Zn satisfy Expression (1): Y??0.1X+1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takahiro SHIKAMA, Shinji Yoshihara
  • Publication number: 20140202598
    Abstract: The present invention provides a casting having increased crashworthiness including an an aluminum alloy of about 6.0 wt % to about 8.0 wt % Si; about 0.12 wt % to about 0.25 wt % Mg; less than or equal to about 0.35 wt % Cu; less than or equal to about 4.0 wt % Zn; less than or equal to about 0.6 wt % Mn; and less than or equal to about 0.15 wt % Fe, wherein the cast body is treated to a T5 or T6 temper and has a tensile strength ranging from 100 MPa to 180 MPa and has a critical fracture strain greater than 10%. The present invention further provides a method of forming a casting having increased crashworthiness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOM0TIVE CASTING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: JEN C. LIN, Moustapha Mbaye, Jan Ove Loland
  • Patent number: 8771441
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy comprising 2.1 to 2.8 wt. % Cu, 1.1 to 1.7 wt. % Li, 0.1 to 0.8 wt. % Ag, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % Mn, a content of Fe and Si less or equal to 0.1 wt. % each, and a content of unavoidable impurities less than or equal to 0.05 wt. % each and 0.15 wt. % total, and the alloy being substantially zirconium free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Bernard Bes, Herve Ribes, Christophe Sigli, Timothy Warner
  • Patent number: 8758529
    Abstract: Aluminum alloys having improved properties are provided. The alloy includes about 0 to 2 wt % rare earth elements, about 0.5 to about 14 wt % silicon, about 0.25 to about 2.0 wt % copper, about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % nickel, approximately 0.1 to 1.0% iron, about 0.1 to about 2.0 wt % zinc, about 0.1 to about 1.0 wt % magnesium, 0 to about 1.0 wt % silver, about 0.01 to about 0.2 wt % strontium, 0 to about 1.0 wt % scandium, 0 to about 1.0 wt % manganese, 0 to about 0.5 wt % calcium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % germanium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % tin, 0 to about 0.5 wt % cobalt, 0 to about 0.2 wt % titanium, 0 to about 0.1 wt % boron, 0 to about 0.2 wt % zirconium, 0 to 0.5% yttrium, 0 to about 0.3 wt % cadmium, 0 to about 0.3 wt % chromium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % indium, and the balance aluminum. Methods of making cast aluminum parts are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Qigui Wang, Wenying Yang, Yucong Wang, Patricia E. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20140166165
    Abstract: An Al—Mg—Si-based high-strength aluminum alloy extruded shape exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and ductility, and exhibits excellent hardenability during extrusion (i.e., ensures high productivity). A method for producing the same is also disclosed. The high-strength aluminum alloy extruded shape includes 0.65 to 0.90 mass % of Mg, 0.60 to 0.90 mass % of Si, 0.20 to 0.40 mass % of Cu, 0.20 to 0.40 mass % of Fe, 0.10 to 0.20 mass % of Mn, and 0.005 to 0.1 mass % of Ti, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, the aluminum alloy extruded shape having a stoichiometric Mg2Si content of 1.0 to 1.3 mass %, an excess Si content relative to stoichiometric Mg2Si of 0.10 to 0.30 mass %, and a total content of Fe and Mn of 0.35 mass % or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Karin Shibata
  • Patent number: 8721811
    Abstract: The present invention provides a casting having increased crashworthiness including an aluminum alloy of about 6.0 wt % to about 8.0 wt % Si; about 0.12 wt % to about 0.25 wt % Mg; less than or equal to about 0.35 wt % Cu; less than or equal to about 4.0 wt % Zn; less than or equal to about 0.6 wt % Mn; and less than or equal to about 0.15 wt % Fe, wherein the cast body is treated to a T5 or T6 temper and has a tensile strength ranging from 100 MPa to 180 MPa and has a critical fracture strain greater than 10%. The present invention further provides a method of forming a casting having increased crashworthiness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Automotive Casting Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jen C. Lin, Moustapha Mbaye, Jan Ove Löland, Russell S. Long, Xinyan Yan
  • Publication number: 20140124103
    Abstract: A high-strength aluminum material having a chemical composition which includes Zn: more than 7.2% (mass %, the same applies hereafter) and 8.7% or less, Mg: 1.3% or more and 2.1% or less, Cu: less than 0.50%, Fe: 0.30% or less, Si: 0.30% or less, Mn: less than 0.05%, Cr: 0.20% or less; Zr: less than 0.05%, Ti: 0.001% or more and 0.05% or less, the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, is provided. It has a proof stress of 350 MPa or more, and a metallographic structure formed of a recrystallized structure. The recrystallized structure is comprised of crystal grains having an average particle diameter of 500 ?m or less, and a crystal grain length in a direction parallel to a hot working direction is 0.5 to 4 times as long as a crystal grain length in a direction perpendicular to the hot working direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: UACJ CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenori Hatta
  • Publication number: 20140096879
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an aluminum alloy composition and a method of heat treating the aluminum alloy, to improve process control and strength of the aluminum alloy for a rear safety plate mounted on a truck, etc., complying with safety regulations wherein the aluminum alloy composition includes Silicon (Si) about 0.8 to 1.3% by weight, Iron (Fe) up to about 0.5% by weight, Copper (Cu) about 0.15 to 0.4% by weight, Manganese (Mn) up to about 0.15% by weight, Magnesium (Mg) about 0.8 to 1.2% by weight, Chromium (Cr) up to about 0.25% by weight, Zinc (Zn) up to about 0.2% by weight, Titanium (Ti) up to about 0.1% by weight and the remaining percent by weight of Aluminum (Al) of the entire composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Nak-Young Kim
  • Publication number: 20140083575
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy material exhibiting excellent bendability can be produced without performing a straightening step, and can be bent without developing orange peel. The aluminum alloy material is a T4-tempered material formed of an Al—Cu—Mg—Si alloy including 1.0 to 2.5 mass % of Cu, 0.5 to 1.5 mass% of Mg, and 0.5 to 1.5 mass % of Si, with the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities, a matrix that forms an inner part of the aluminum alloy material having a microstructure formed by recrystallized grains having an average crystal grain size of 200 ?m or less, and the aluminum alloy material having a ratio “tensile strength/yield strength” determined by a tensile test of 1.5 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Tadashi Minoda, Yasuhiro Nakai
  • Patent number: 8673209
    Abstract: Aluminum alloy products about 4 inches thick or less that possesses the ability to achieve, when solution heat treated, quenched, and artificially aged, and in parts made from the products, an improved combination of strength, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance, the alloy consisting essentially of: about 6.8 to about 8.5 wt. % Zn, about 1.5 to about 2.00 wt. % Mg, about 1.75 to about 2.3 wt. % Cu; about 0.05 to about 0.3 wt. % Zr, less than about 0.1 wt. % Mn, less than about 0.05 wt. % Cr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities and a method for making same. The invention alloy is useful in making structural members for commercial airplanes including, but not limited to, upper wing skins and stringers, spar caps, spar webs and ribs of either built-up or integral construction. The invention alloy may be aged by 2 or 3 step practices while exceeding the SCC requirements for applications for which the invention alloy is primarily intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gary H. Bray, Dhurba J. Chakrabarti, Diana Denzer, Jen Lin, John Newman, Greg Venema, Cagatay Yanar
  • Patent number: 8613820
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignees: Aleris Aluminum Duffel BVBA, Aleris Aluminum Koblenz GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Alexander Maria Smeyers, Bruno Schepers, Sabine Maria Spangel, Alastair Wise, Ingo Günther Kröpfl, Sunil Khosla
  • Publication number: 20130269840
    Abstract: The invention relates to an extruded product made of an alloy containing aluminum comprising 4.2 wt % to 4.8 wt % of Cu, 0.9 wt % to 1.1 wt % of Li, 0.15 wt % to 0.25 wt % of Ag, 0.2 wt % to 0.6 wt % of Mg, 0.07 wt % to 0.15 wt % of Zr, 0.2 wt % to 0.6 wt % of Mn, 0.01 wt % to 0.15 wt % of Ti, a quantity of Zn less than 0.2 wt %, a quantity of Fe and Si less than or equal to 0.1 wt % each, and unavoidable impurities with a content less than or equal to 0.05 wt % each and 0.15 wt % in total. The profiles according to the invention are particularly useful as fuselage stiffeners or stringers, circumferential frames, wing stiffeners, floor beams or profiles, or seat tracks, notably owing to their improved properties in relation to those of known products, in particular in terms of energy absorption during an impact, static mechanical strength and corrosion resistance properties and their low density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: CONSTELLIUM FRANCE
    Inventors: Armelle Danielou, Mathieu Marquette, Jerome Pignatel, Gaelle Pouget, Timothy Warner
  • Publication number: 20130255842
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy forged material for automotive vehicles comprises 0.6˜1.2 mass % of Mg, 0.7˜1.5 mass % of Si, 0.1.˜0.5 mass % of Fe, 0.01˜0.1 mass % of Ti, 0.3˜1.0 mass % of Mn, at least one of 0.1˜0.4 mass % of Cr and 0.05˜0.2 mass % of Zr, a restricted amount of Cu that is less than or equal to 0.1 mass %, a restricted amount of Zn that is less than or equal to 0.05 mass %, a restricted amount of H that is less than or equal to 0.25 ml in 100 g Al and a remainder of Al and inevitably contained impurities, and the material includes precipitated crystalline particles among which the largest one has a maximum equivalent circle diameter equal to or less than 8 ?m and an area ratio of the precipitated crystalline particles is equal to or less than 3.6%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventor: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
  • Publication number: 20130255841
    Abstract: It is an object to provide an aluminum alloy forged material for an automobile excellent in tensile strength while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance, and a method for manufacturing the same. Provided are the aluminum alloy forged material for an automobile and a method for manufacturing the same, the aluminum alloy forged material being composed of an aluminum alloy including Si: 0.7-1.5 mass %, Fe: 0.1-0.5 mass %, Mg: 0.6-1.2 mass %, Ti: 0.01-0.1 mass % and Mn: 0.3-1.0 mass %, further including at least one element selected from Cr: 0.1-0.4 mass % and Zr: 0.01-0.2 mass %, restricting Cu: 0.1 mass % or less and Zn: 0.05 mass % or less, and a hydrogen amount: 0.25 ml/100 g-Al or less, the remainder being Al and unavoidable impurities, in which the depth of recrystallization from the surface is 5 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Masayuki HORI, Yoshiya Inagaki
  • Patent number: 8524014
    Abstract: Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg?(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Zr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities. Preferably, the alloy contains about 6.9 to 8.5 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.7 wt. % Mg; 1.3 to 2 wt. % Cu. This alloy provides improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness in thick gauges. When artificially aged per the 3-stage method of preferred embodiments, this alloy also achieves superior SCC performance, including under seacoast conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Dhruba J. Chakrabarti, John Liu, Jay H. Goodman, Gregory B. Venema, Ralph R. Sawtell, Cynthia M. Krist, Robert W. Westerlund
  • Publication number: 20130213533
    Abstract: A 7000-series aluminum alloy hollow extruded material formed by porthole extrusion contains Zn: 3.0 to 8.0 mass %, Mg: 0.4 to 2.0 mass %, Cu: 0.05 to 2.0 mass %, Si: 0.3 mass % or less, Fe: 0.35 mass % or less, and one or more of Mn, Cr, and Zr: 0.10 mass % or less in total, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities. The aluminum alloy hollow extruded material has a recrystallized structure throughout the cross-section. In the case of pipe expansion by electro-magnetic forming, excellent pipe expansion formability is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventor: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho ( Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
  • Patent number: 8491733
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy of the AlZnMg type, which is suitable for producing low-stress, high-strength aluminum input materials, and to a method for producing such aluminum input materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Aluminium Lend Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Günther Trenda
  • Publication number: 20130146183
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy extruded material in relation with the present invention is with high strength by die quench air cooling and excellent in SCC resistance. The aluminum alloy extruded material is an Al—Zn—Mg-based aluminum alloy extruded material for structural member for automobiles such as a bumper reinforce, a door guard bar and the like which satisfies three expressions of 5.0?[Zn]7.0, [Zn]/5.38<[Mg]?[Zn]/5.38+0.7, and [Zn]+4.7[Mg]?14, where [Mg] represents mass % of Mg and [Zn] represents mass % of Zn, and contains at least either one element of Cu: 0.1-0.6 mass % and Ag: 0.01-0.15 mass %, Ti: 0.005-0.05 mass %, and at least one element out of Mn: 0.1-0.3 mass %, Cr: 0.05-0.2 mass %, Zr: 0.05-0.2 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yukimasa MIYATA, Shinji Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 8444777
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu 7000-series Al alloy having high ductility as well as having high strength. For attaining this purpose, an Al alloy having a structure in which an inclusion is not included is produced by reducing an amount of oxygen contained in an Al alloy that is obtained by solidifying a preform resulting from rapid solidification by preferably spray forming a molten metal of an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu 7000-series Al alloy with an inert gas. This Al alloy has, as mechanical properties at an ordinary temperature, a tensile strength of 600 MPa or more, and an elongation of 15% or more when the tensile strength is from 600 MPa or more and less than 800 MPa or an elongation of 10% or more when the tensile strength is 800 MPa or more, and is excellent in cold workability such as rollability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Hata, Katsura Kajihara, Shigenobu Namba, Hiroyuki Takeda, Mamoru Nagao
  • Publication number: 20130092294
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process to manufacture a flat-rolled product, notably for the aeronautic industry containing aluminum alloy comprising 2.1% to 3.9% Cu by weight, 0.7% to 2.0% Li by weight, 0.1% to 1,0% Mg by weight, 0% to 0.6% Ag by weight, 0% to 1% Zn by weight, at least 0.20% Fe+Si by weight, at least one element chosen from Zr, Mn, Cr, Sc, Hf and Ti, the quantity of said element, if chosen, being 0.05% to 0.18% by weight for Zn, 0.1% to 0.6% by weight for Mn, 0.05% to 0.3% by weight for Cr, 0.02% to 0.2% by weight for Sc, 0.05% to 0.5% by weight for Hf and 0.01% to 0.15% by weight for Ti, the other elements at most 0.05% by weight each and 0.15% by weight in total, the rest being aluminum, in which, notably a flattening and/or stretching is performed with a cumulated deformation of at least 0.5% and less than 3%, and a short heat-treatment is performed in which the sheet reaches a temperature between 130° C. and 170° C. for a period of 0.1 to 13 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: CONSTELLIUM FRANCE
    Inventor: CONSTELLIUM FRANCE
  • Publication number: 20130032255
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aluminium alloy forging for use in automotive suspension parts and the like, and a method of manufacture for same. The aluminium alloy forging contains Si 0.4-1.5 wt %, Fe greater than 0.4 wt % and equal to or less than 1.0 wt %, Cu equal to or less than 0.40 wt %, Mg 0.8-1.3 wt % and Ti 0.01-0.1 wt %; Zn is restricted to equal to or less than 0.05 wt %; and the aluminium alloy forging contains at least one selected from among the following group comprising: Mn 0.01-1.0 wt % and Cr 0.1-0.4%; and Zr 0.05-0.2 wt %. Hydrogen content is restricted to 0.25 ml or less per 100 g of Al, and the remainder is composed of unavoidable impurities and Al. The average grain size is 50 ?m or less, the crystallised area ratio is 3% or less, and the average crystallized grain size is 8 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Masayuki Hori, Yoshiya Inabe-shi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 8366846
    Abstract: Disclosed is an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy sheet that can prevent ridging marks during press forming and has good reproducibility even with stricter fabricating conditions. In an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy sheet of a specific composition, hot rolling is performed on the basis of a set relationship between the rolling start temperature Ts and the rolling finish temperature Tf° C., whereby the relationship of the cube orientation distribution profile in the horizontal direction of the sheet with the cube orientation alone or another crystal orientation distribution profile at various locations in the depth direction of the sheet is made more uniform, suppressing the appearance of ridging marks that develop during sheet press forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takaki, Takeo Sakurai, Kwangjin Lee
  • Patent number: 8366839
    Abstract: The present invention relates to extruded, rolled and/or forged products. Also provided are methods of making such products based on aluminum alloy wherein a liquid metal bath is prepared comprising 2.0 to 3.5% by weight of Cu, 1.4 to 1.8% by weight of Li, 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of Ag, 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of Mg, 0.05 to 0.18% by weight of Zr, 0.2 to 0.6% by weight of Mn and at least one element selected from Cr, Sc, Hf and Ti, the quantity of said element, if it is selected, being 0.05 to 0.3% by weight for Cr and for Sc, 0.05 to 0.5% by weight for Hf and 0.01 to 0.15% by weight for Ti, the remainder being aluminum and inevitable impurities. The products and methods of the present invention offer a particularly advantageous compromise between static mechanical strength and damage tolerance and are particularly useful in the field of aeronautical design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Constellium France
    Inventors: Fabrice Heymes, Frank Eberl, Gaëlle Pouget
  • Publication number: 20120325381
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing process for an aluminum block of at least 250 mm thick designed for the manufacture of elements for vacuum chambers in which the following operations are carried out successively: an alloy block is cast by semi-continuous casting, the composition of this block in weight % being: Si 0.5-1.5; Mg: 0.5-1.5; Fe<0.3; Cu<0.2; Mn<0.8; Cr<0.10; Ti<0.15, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, the rest aluminum; solution heat treatment is performed at a temperature ranging between 450 and 560° C. directly on the cast block and optionally homogenized; the block that has undergone solution heat treatment is quenched at a cooling speed between the solution heat treatment temperature and 200° C. of at least 200° C./h; the block quenched and optionally stress-relieved is artificially aged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: CONSTELLIUM VALAIS SA, CONSTELLIUM FRANCE
    Inventors: Cédric Gasqueres, Joost Van Kappel
  • Publication number: 20120312427
    Abstract: A high-strength Al—Cu—Mg—Si aluminum alloy product obtained by extrusion is characterized in that the microstructure of the entire surface of the cross-section of the aluminum alloy product is formed of recrystallized grains, the grains have an average aspect ratio (L/t) of 5.0 or less and the orientation density of the grains in the microstructure, for which the normal direction to the {001} plane is parallel to the extrusion direction in comparison with the grains orientated to random orientations, is 50 or less. The high-strength Al—Cu—Mg—Si aluminum alloy product is characterized in that rod-shaped precipitates are arranged in the grains of the matrix in the <100> direction, the precipitates have an average length of 10 to 70 nm and a maximum length of 120 nm or less, and the number density of the precipitates in the [001] direction measured from the (001) plane is 500 or more per square micrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Shingo IWAMURA, Tadashi Minoda, Katsuya Kato
  • Patent number: 8328963
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet of specific Al—Mg—Si composition, which, owing to preliminary aging treatment under adequate conditions, has a specific metallographic structure in which there are a large number of clusters of specific size (each being an aggregate of atoms) expressed in terms of number density, which, when observed under a transmission electron microscope of 1,000,000 magnifications, appear as dark contrast in the bright field image. It is superior in paint baking hardenability and is invulnerable to room temperature aging during storage for a comparatively long period of 1 to 4 months.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takaki, Kwangjin Lee
  • Publication number: 20120291925
    Abstract: Wrought product made of aluminum alloy composed as follows, as a percentage by weight Mg: 4.0-5.0; Li: 1.0-1.6; Zr: 0.05-0.15; Ti: 0.01-0.15; Fe: 0.02-0.2; Si: 0.02-0.2; Mn: ?0.5; Cr?0.5; Ag: ?0.5; Cu?0.5; Zn?0.5; Sc?0.01; other elements <0.05; the rest aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: CONSTELLIUM FRANCE
    Inventors: Bernard Bes, Frank Eberl
  • Patent number: 8303736
    Abstract: A casted aluminum alloy obtained by casting a molten metal of an aluminum alloy, an aluminum alloy material obtained by at least heating the casted aluminum alloy, and methods for producing them. In the production of the casted aluminum alloy, a molten metal is obtained by melting an aluminum alloy containing 0.8 to 5 mass % of Fe, 0.15 to 1 mass % of Ti, Zr or the like as third component elements in an specific amount, and a residual part containing Al and inevitable impurities at a certain temperature (melting step). Subsequently, the molten metal is cast into a plate-like shape by a casting mold while cooling the molten metal to a temperature that is lower by at least 10° C. than a solidus temperature of the aluminum alloy at a cooling rate of 150° C./sec. or more and less than 10000° C./sec. (casting step).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventor: Hideaki Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20120261035
    Abstract: The present invention provides an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu casting alloy that provides high strength for automotive and aerospace applications and optimized stress corrosion cracking resistance in highly corrosive and tensile environments. The inventive alloy composition includes about 3.5 wt. % to about 5.5 wt. % Zn; about 1.0 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. % Mg; about 0.5 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. % Cu; less than about 1.0 wt. % Si; less than about 0.30 wt. % Mn; less than about 0.30 wt. % Fe; and a balance of Al and incidental impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: JEN C. LIN, Xinyan Yan, Wenping Zhang, James P. Moran, John M. Newman, Ralph R. Sawtell, Gerald D. Scott, Michael Brandt, Bob R. Fors, Rick A. Borns, Moustapha Mbaye
  • Publication number: 20120261036
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for wrought products made of Al—Cu—Mg aluminum alloy composed as follows, as a percentage by weight, Cucorr: 2.6-3.7; Mgcorr: 1.5-2.6, Mn: 0.2-0.5; Zr: ?0.16; Ti: 0.01-0.15; Cr?0.25; Si?0.2; Fe?0.2; other elements <0.05 the rest aluminum; with Cucorr>?0.9 (Mgcorr)+4.3 and Cucorr<?0.9 (Mgcorr)+5.0; where Cucorr?Cu?0.74 (Mn?0.2)?2.28 Fe and Mgcorr?Mg 1.73 (Si?0.05) for Si?0.05 and Mgcorr?Mg for Si<0.05 and their manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: CONSTELLIUM FRANCE
    Inventors: Gaelle POUGET, Christophe SIGLI
  • Patent number: 8277580
    Abstract: A rolled or forged Al—Zn—Cu—Mg aluminum-based alloy wrought product having a thickness from 2 to 10 inches. The product has been treated by solution heat-treatment, quenching and aging, and the product comprises (in weight-%): Zn 6.2-7.2, Mg 1.5-2.4, Cu 1.7-2.1. Fe 0-0.13, Si 0-0.10, Ti 0-0.06, Zr 0.06-0.13, Cr 0-0.04, Mn 0-0.04, Mn 0-0.04, impurities and other incidental elements ?0.05 each. Alloys per se and aircraft and aerospace uses, as well as methods of making products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignees: Constellium France, Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood, LLC
    Inventors: Vic Dangerfield, Kenneth Paul Smith, Timothy Warner, David Dumont
  • Patent number: 8246763
    Abstract: A high strength aluminum alloy casting obtained by casting an aluminum alloy comprised of 7.5 to 11.5 wt % of Si, 3.8 to 4.8 wt % of Cu, 0.45 to 0.65 wt % of Mg, 0.4 to 0.7 wt % of Fe, 0.35 to 0.45 wt % of Mn, and the balance of Al and not more than 0.2 wt % of unavoidable impurities, wherein this aluminum alloy has 0.1 to 0.3 wt % of Ag added to it or contains 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of at least one element selected from the group of second additive elements comprised of Rb, K, Ba, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ta, V, and Pd and rare earth elements, and a method of production of a high strength aluminum alloy casting comprising the steps of filling a melt of an aluminum alloy in a mold to obtain a casting, taking out the aluminum alloy casting from the mold, solubilizing the high strength aluminum alloy casting by heating in a temperature range of 495 to 505° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Light Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Yamada, Tomoyuki Hatano, Susumu Miyakawa, Hiromi Takagi, Hiroshi Horikawa, Akio Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20120207640
    Abstract: High strength aluminum alloys and methods for producing them. The alloys consist essentially of about 9.0 to 10.3 wt. % zinc, about 2.5 to 3.5 wt. % magnesium, about 1.5 to 3.0 wt. % copper and less than about 0.05 wt. % of any other alloying constituent. The balance consists of aluminum. These alloys are compatible with ceramic reinforcements used in metal matrix composites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Gamma Technology, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Harrigan, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120168045
    Abstract: Disclosed is an Al—Mg—Si aluminum alloy extrudate which contains, in terms of mass %, 0.60-1.20% Mg, 0.30-0.95% Si, 0.01-0.40% Fe, 0.30-0.52% Mn, 0.001-0.65% Cu, and 0.001-0.10% Ti and in which the contents of Mg and Si satisfy Mg(%)?(1.73×Si(%)?0.25)?0 and the remainder comprises Al. The extrudate has an equi-axed recrystallized grain texture in which the areal proportion of recrystallized grains is 65% or higher. In examination with a TEM having a magnification of 5,000, intergranular precipitate grains having a size of 1 ?m or more in terms of center-of-gravity diameter are apart from one another at an average spacing exceeding 25 ?m. The average areal proportion of Goss-orientation grains is less than 8% throughout the whole thickness of this extrudate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Kentaro Ihara, Takahiro Shikama
  • Patent number: 8206517
    Abstract: New 7XXX alloys having improved ballistics performance are disclosed. The new alloys generally are resistant to armor piercing rounds at 2850 fps, resistant to fragment simulated particles at 2950 fps, and are resistant to spalling. To achieve the improved ballistics properties, the alloys are generally overaged so as to obtain a tensile yield strength that is (i) at least about 10 ksi lower than peak strength and/or (ii) no greater than 70 ksi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin M. Bush, Ian Murray, Roberto J. Rioja, Ralph R. Sawtell
  • Publication number: 20120090742
    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 (a) 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, (b) forming the aluminium 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 aluminium alloy sheet in the formed BIW part has a yield strength of more than 500 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Aleris Aluminum Koblenz GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Alexander Maria Smeyers, Bruno Schepers, Sabine Maria Spangel, Alastair Wise, Ingo Günther Kröpel, Sunil Khosla
  • Patent number: 8157932
    Abstract: An aluminum casting alloy, comprises, in weight percent, about 4-9% Zn; about 1-4% Mg; about 1-2.5% Cu; less than about 0.1% Si; less than about 0.12% Fe; less than about 0.5% Mn; about 0.01-0.05% B; less than about 0.15% Ti; about 0.05-0.2% Zr; about 0.1-0.5% Sc; no more than about 0.05% each miscellaneous element or impurity; no more than about 0.15% total miscellaneous elements or impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Xinyan Yan, Jen C. Lin, Cagatay Yanar, Larry Zellman, Xavier Dumant, Robert Tombari, Eric Lafontaine
  • Patent number: 8152940
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy forging material having enhanced strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance, and a method of producing the material. An aluminum alloy forging material 1 produced with specified components under specified conditions has an arm portion 2 including a relatively narrow and thick peripheral rib 3 and a thin and relatively wide central web 4 having a thickness of 10 mm or less and having a substantially H-shaped sectional form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Nakai, Yoshiya Inagaki, Atsumi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8118950
    Abstract: Improved aluminum-copper-lithium alloys are disclosed. The alloys may include 3.4-4.2 wt. % Cu, 0.9-1.4 wt. % Li, 0.3-0.7 wt. % Ag, 0.1-0.6 wt. % Mg, 0.2-0.8 wt. % Zn, 0.1-0.6 wt. % Mn, and 0.01-0.6 wt. % of at least one grain structure control element, the balance being aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. The alloys achieve an improved combination of properties over prior art alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Colvin, Roberto J. Rioja, Les A. Yocum, Diana K. Denzer, Todd K. Cogswell, Gary H. Bray, Ralph R. Sawtell, Andre L. Wilson