Magnesium Containing Patents (Class 148/440)
  • Patent number: 6168675
    Abstract: There is claimed an aluminum alloy composition consisting essentially of: about 12-22 wt % silicon, about 2.5-4.5 wt % nickel, about 0.2-0.6 wt % magnesium, up to about 1.2 wt % manganese, up to about 1.2 wt % iron, and about 0.005-0.015 wt % phosphorus. This alloy composition may further contain up to about 0.25 wt % vanadium, up to about 0.2 wt % zirconium, up to about 0.25 wt % titanium, up to about 2 wt % cerium and/or mischmetal. Because of its high temperature strengths, said alloy is suitable for manufacturing into various cast automotive components, including vehicle disk brake frames and other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Que-Tsang Fang, James R. Van Wert
  • Patent number: 6132531
    Abstract: Alloy and cast alloy product ideally suited for use as a component in a vehicle frame or subframe, i.e., body-in-white, comprising an alloy consisting of about 2.80 to 3.60 wt. % magnesium, less than approximately 0.20 wt. % silicon, approximately 1.10 to 1.40 wt. % manganese, less than approximately 0.2 wt. % iron, less than approximately 0.15 wt. % titanium, about 0.0005 to 0.0015 beryllium, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. The aluminum/magnesium alloy is typically solidified into ingot derived working stock by die casting into a shape suitable for remelt for die casting, which shape is typically an ingot billet. Excellent mechanical properties are obtained from a cast product that is not subjected to heat treating operations subsequent to casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Que Tsang Fang, Jen C. Lin, Manfred G. Sindel
  • Patent number: 6117252
    Abstract: By careful control of composition and processing, Al--Mg based alloy sheets with preferred grain sizes and crystallographic textures that result in good press formability are disclosed. The Al--Mg alloy preferably contains 2-6 wt % Mg, and at least 0.03 wt % of at least one element selected from Fe, Mn, Cr, Zr, and Cu. The crystallographic texture is comprised of grains with a volume fraction in a range of about 5% to 20% in the CUBE orientation {100} <001>, a volume fraction in a range of about 1% to 5% in the GOSS orientation {110} <001>, a volume fraction in a range of about 1% to 10% in each of the BRASS orientation {110} <112>, S orientation {123} <634>, and COPPER orientation {112} <111>, wherein the grain size is in a range of about 20 to 70 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Barlat, John C. Brem, Shigeo Hattori, Yasuhiro Hayashida, Daniel J. Lege, Yasushi Maeda, Kuniaki Matsui, Shawn J. Murtha, Masahiro Yanagawa, Kwansoo Chung, Narikazu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6086688
    Abstract: A metal-matrix composite material includes a matrix having magnesium in an amount of more than about 0.3 weight percent but no more than about 2.5 weight percent, an alloying element of about 0.8 to about 2.5 weight percent iron or from about 1.0 to about 2.5 weight percent manganese, and the balance aluminum and impurities. Dispersed throughout the matrix is a plurality of metal oxide particles present in an amount of more than about 5 volume percent but no more than about 25 volume percent of the total volume of the matrix and the particles. This material may be cast into casting molds. After casting is complete and during solidification of the matrix alloy, a high volume fraction of intermetallic particles is crystallized in the matrix alloy. The total of the volume fractions of the metal oxide particles and the intermetallic particles is from about 10 to about 40 volume percent, preferably from about 25 to about 40 volume percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Ltd.
    Inventors: Don Allen Doutre, Iljoon Jin, David James Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6074494
    Abstract: This invention aims to provide a nitriding method of forming a relatively thick nitride layer on the surface of an aluminum material containing silicon, and an auxiliary agent for nitriding. By using a nitriding auxiliary agent mainly comprising aluminum containing a metal such as lithium or boron, which has a high bonding strength with oxygen, coexists with silicon to form substantially no silicide, or a nitriding auxiliary agent mainly comprising an Al--Mg--Cu alloy or an Mg--Zn--Cu alloy, heat treatment is applied by nitrogen gas with the aluminum material to be nitrided contacted with the nitriding auxiliary agent. Hence, a thick nitride layer can be easily formed even on the surface of an aluminum material containing silicon, and this is most suitable to surface nitride aluminum-silicon alloys, which possess superior castability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyo Aluminium Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohisa Miura, Yasuhiro Yamada, Haruzo Katoh
  • Patent number: 6063210
    Abstract: A superplastically formable, aluminum alloy product which consists essentially of about 2-10 wt. % magnesium; at least one dispersoid-forming element selected from the group consisting of: up to about 1.6 wt. % manganese, up to about 0.2 wt. % zirconium, and up to about 0.3 w. % chromium; at least one nucleation-enhancing element for recrystallization selected from: up to about 1.0 wt. % silicon, up to about 1.5 wt. % copper, and combinations thereof. Said alloy product has greater than about 300% elongation at a strain rate of at least about 0.0003/sec and a superplastic forming temperature between about 1000-1100.degree. F. due, in part, to the preferred thermomechanical processing steps subsequently applied thereto. A related method of manufacture is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Dhruba J. Chakrabarti, Roger D. Doherty
  • Patent number: 6059902
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy containing Si: 1.5-12% (mass % here and hereinafter), Mg: 0.5-6% and, optionally, at least one of Mn: 0.5-2%, Cu: 0.15-3% and Cr: 0.04-0.35% and, further, containing Ti: 0.01-0.1% and the balance of Al and inevitable impurities, in which the average grain size of crystallized grains of Si system compounds is from 2 to 20 .mu.m and an area ratio thereof is from 2 to 12%. The alloy is melted to obtain a cast ingot having DAS (Dendrite Arm Spacing) of 10 to 50 .mu.m, which is then put to a soaking treatment at 450 to 520.degree. C. and then to extrusion molding. The aluminum alloy has excellent machinability with no addition of low melting metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Shinji Yoshihara, Masakazu Hirano
  • Patent number: 5996471
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy for internal-combustion engine pistons has good high-temperature strength and good abrasion resistance. It comprises from 2 to 5% by weight of copper, from 13 to 16% by weight of silicon, from 0.2 to 1.3% by weight of magnesium, from 1.0 to 2.5% by weight of nickel from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of vanadium and from 0.004 to 0.02% by weight of phosphorus, with the balance of aluminum. To produce the piston, a melt of the aluminum alloy having the defined composition is cast and then aged under heat at 220 to 260.degree. C. for 3 to 5 hours (T5 treatment) or, after having been cast, heated at 480 to 510.degree. C. for 3 to 10 hours for solution treatment and then aged under heat at 240 to 260.degree. C. for 3 to 5 hours (T6 or T7 treatment).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aikawa, Akinari Ishikawa, Soichi Hara
  • Patent number: 5993572
    Abstract: In a thixocasting process, the following steps are used: a step of subjecting, to a heating treatment, an Al-Si based alloy material having a hypo eutectic crystal composition and a characteristic that a first angled endothermic section appearing due to the melting of a eutectic crystal and a second angled endothermic section appearing due to the melting of a component having a melting point higher than a eutectic point exist in a differential calorimetric curve, thereby preparing a semi-molten Al-Si based alloy material having solid and liquid phases coexisting therein; a step of pouring the semi-molten Al-Si based alloy material into a cavity in a casting mold under pressure; and a step of solidifying the semi-molten Al-Si based alloy material under pressure. When the temperature of a rise-start point in the first angled endothermic section is represented by T.sub.1, and the temperature of a drop-end point the first angled endothermic sections is represented by T.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Saito, Haruo Shiina, Takeyoshi Nakamura, Takeshi Sugawara, Kazuo Kikawa
  • Patent number: 5925313
    Abstract: There is provided an Al base alloy containing boron which is superior in mechanical properties such as strength, ductility or workability and the like and has a neutron absorbing capacity and an ability to recycle. This is an Al base alloy containing boron with Mg: 2 to 8% (massed %, similarly applied hereinafter) and B: 0.5 to 1.5% and satisfying a relation of .sup.10 B/(.sup.10 B+.sup.11 B).gtoreq.95%, and a rate of AlB.sub.2 in all boron compounds is 80% or more by a volumetric rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Katsura Kajihara, Haruo Kakunai, Yuichi Seki, Tadahiko Yamashita, Masahiro Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 5916390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder liner sealed into a reciprocating piston engine comprising a supereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of mixed-in particles of hard material and which is composed in such a way that fine silicon primary crystals and intermetallic particles automatically form from the melt as hard particles. A blank is allowed to grow from finely sprayed melt droplets by spray compaction, with a fine distribution of hard particles being produced by setting the spray for small melt droplets. The blank can then be formed by cold extrusion to create a shape approximating the cylinder lining. After premachining, the surface is fine machined, honed in at least one stage and then the hard particles lying at the surface are mechanically exposed, is forming plateau areas of hard particles which project above the remaining surface of the base microstructure of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Franz Ruckert, Peter Stocker, Roland Biedermann
  • Patent number: 5911845
    Abstract: A high-strength extruded article of an age-hardening aluminum alloy capable of educing an achromatic dark gray color after the anodizing treatment thereof and a method for the production thereof are disclosed. The method comprises subjecting an alloy billet comprising 0.9 to 3.0% by weight of Si, 0.3 to 0.6% by weight of Mg, less than 0.3% by weight of Fe, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities or an alloy billet comprising 0.005 to 0.1% by weight of Ti either alone or in combination with 0.001 to 0.02% by weight of B besides the components mentioned above to a soaking treatment at a temperature in the range of from 350 to 480.degree. C. for 2 to 12 hours, extruding the soaked alloy billet at a billet temperature in the range of from 380 to 450 .degree. C., and subjecting the extruded alloy to an aging treatment at a temperature in the range of from 170 to 200.degree. C. for 2 to 8 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fukagawa, Shoso Yamamoto, Hiroshi Chiba, Mitsunao Satomura, Kengo Kawase
  • Patent number: 5908518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rolled or extruded AlMgMn aluminum alloy product for welded mechanical construction with the composition (% by weight): 3.0<Mg<65, 0.2<Mn<1.0, Fe<0.8, 0.05<Si<0.6, Zn<1.3, possibly Cr<0.15 and/or one or more of the elements Cu, Ti, Ag, Zr, V at a content of<0.30 each, other elements and inevitable impurities <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, in which the number of Mg.sub.2 Si particles between 0.5 .mu.m and 5 .mu.m, in size is between 150 and 2,000 per mm.sup.2, and preferably between 300 and 1,500 per mm.sup.2. The products according to the invention have good corrosion resistance and are used for structural applications such as for example, boats, offshore structures or industrial vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Hoffmann, Martin Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5906689
    Abstract: An aluminum-based alloy composition having improved corrosion resistance and extrudability consists essentially of, in weight percent, an amount of copper up to about 0.03%, between about 0.1 and 0.5% manganese, between about 0.03 and 0.30% titanium, between about 0.06 and 1.0% zinc, an amount of iron up to about 0.50%, between about 0.05 and 0.12% Si, less than 0.01% manganese, less than 0.01% nickel, up to 0.5% chromium with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. A process of making an aluminum alloy article having high corrosion resistance also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Subhasish Sircar
  • Patent number: 5903055
    Abstract: A conductor line material is provided which has an extremely low electric resistance such as 10 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm or less, and in preferred embodiments, about 5 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm, which causes no defect such as hillocks and pinholes even at high temperatures, and which easily forms strong insulation films by anodic oxidation. An Al-based conductor line material comprising an alloy whose composition formula is substantially expressed by Al.sub.x (M.sub.y N.sub.1-y).sub.1-x, where M represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of rare-earth elements, N represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of Nb, Zr and Ta, x is between 98 and 99.5 atomic percent, and y is a number between 0.1 and 0.9, wherein an intermetallic compound of Al with said element represented by M or N is deposited in the matrix by subsequent heat treatment. The same object may be achieved by an alloy of Al to which 0.5-2.0 atomic percent Nb is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Takayama
  • Patent number: 5888661
    Abstract: A composite structure including a substrate and a heat protection element on the substrate, wherein the heat protection element includes a quasicrystalline aluminum alloy of one or a number of quasicrystalline phases which are either quasicrystalline phases in the strict sense, or approximating phases, wherein the quasicrystalline phases exhibit a thermal diffusivity, measured at ambient temperature, lower than 2.5.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s, and a thermal diffusivity measured in the temperature range 650.degree.-750.degree. C. which does not exceed the thermal diffusivity measured at ambient temperature by more than a factor of 3, and wherein the quasicrystalline aluminum alloy comprises Al.sub.a Pd.sub.b Mn.sub.c X.sub.d Y.sub.e T.sub.f I.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Dubois, Pierre Archambault, Bernard Colleret
  • Patent number: 5865914
    Abstract: There is claimed a lower wing structure for a commercial jet aircraft which includes a substantially unrecrystallized rolled plate member made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about 3.6 to 4.0 wt. % copper, about 1.0 to 1.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.7 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to 0.25 wt. % zirconium, the balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. On a preferred basis, the alloy products of this invention include very low levels of both iron and silicon, typically on the order of less than 0.1 wt. % each, and more preferably about 0.05 wt. % or less iron and about 0.03 wt. % or less silicon. This alloy composition may be rolled to form lower wing skin plates and extruded or rolled to form wing box stringers therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Lynette M. Karabin, John Liu, Allison S. Warren, Gary H. Bray
  • Patent number: 5865912
    Abstract: Described herein is an SiC-reinforced aluminum alloy composite material of the type having silicon carbide uniformly dispersed in an aluminum alloy matrix containing magnesium as a strengthening element, characterized in that the composite material contains Al4C3 in an amount smaller than 0.5 wt % and residual oxygen in an amount smaller than 0.4 wt %, and has a modulus of elasticity higher than 9000 kgf/mm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morimoto, Kenichiro Ouchi, Hiroshi Iwamura
  • Patent number: 5865911
    Abstract: Rolled plate products up to 6 inches thick or more and other products in an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about 5.2 to 6.8% zinc, 1.7 to 2.4% copper, 1.6 to 2% magnesium, 0.03 to 0.3% zirconium, balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities, are useful in making structural members for commercial airplanes especially by machining or shaping such members from the plate. Such members include lower wing skins and wing spars and other members. The plate is made by operations comprising homogenization, hot rolling, solution heat treatment, stretching and artificial aging. Alternatively, the plate is shaped after stretching, which may include machining, and is then artificially aged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Shelly M. Miyasato, Gary H. Bray, John Liu, James T. Staley
  • Patent number: 5843247
    Abstract: A high-strength extruded article of an age-hardening aluminum alloy capable of educing an achromatic dark gray color after the anodizing treatment thereof and a method for the production thereof are disclosed. The method comprises subjecting an alloy billet comprising 0.9 to 3.0% by weight of Si, 0.3 to 0.6% by weight of Mg, less than 0.3% by weight of Fe, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities or an alloy billet comprising 0.005 to 0.1% by weight of Ti either alone or in combination with 0.001 to 0.02% by weight of B besides the components mentioned above to a soaking treatment at a temperature in the range of from 350.degree. to 480.degree. C. for 2 to 12 hours, extruding the soaked alloy billet at a billet temperature in the range of from 380.degree. to 450.degree. C., and subjecting the extruded alloy to an aging treatment at a temperature in the range of from 170.degree. to 200.degree. C. for 2 to 8 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fukagawa, Shoso Yamamoto, Hiroshi Chiba, Mitsunao Satomura, Kengo Kawase
  • Patent number: 5803995
    Abstract: The calcium-aluminum system hydrogen absorbing alloy of the present invention is an alloy which is composed of a mixture P of Ca with Mg and an Al base alloy Q, has a molar ratio P:Q of 1:1.5 to 2.8 and shows a Laves phase with the C15-type structure as the fundamental structure thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hideaki Tanaka, Hiroshi Miyamura, Nobuhiro Kuriyama, Tetsuo Sakai, Itsuki Uehara
  • Patent number: 5772799
    Abstract: Can or lid stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is strip cast to form a hot strip cast feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly quenched to prevent substantial precipitation and then cold rolled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tyzh-Chiang Sun, William Betts
  • Patent number: 5769972
    Abstract: Can or lid stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is strip cast to form a hot strip cast feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly annealed and quenched rapidly to prevent substantial precipitation of alloying elements and then cold rolled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tyzh-Chiang Sun, William Betts
  • Patent number: 5728239
    Abstract: A process for hardening aluminum comprises the steps of adding a magnesium hardener to molten aluminum wherein the hardener has a magnesium content in the range of 64-72 wt % based on the weight of the hardener, with a remaining portion of the hardener comprising aluminum. The process may further include the steps of preheating the hardener prior to adding the hardener to the aluminum for decreasing a temperature differential between the hardener and the aluminum so as to stabilize the hardener and prevent shattering thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: KBAlloys, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Setzer, Richard J. Malliris, David K. Young, Francis P. Koch
  • Patent number: 5714018
    Abstract: A high-strength and high-toughness aluminum-based alloy having a composition represented by the general formula: Al.sub.a Ni.sub.b X.sub.c M.sub.d Q.sub.e, wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Mm, Ti and Zr; M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Y, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W; Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Si, Cu and Zn; and a, b, c, d and e are, in atomic percentage, 83.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.94,3, 5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.10, 0.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.3, 0.1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.2, and 0.1.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.2. The aluminum-based alloy has a high strength and an excellent toughness and can maintain the excellent characteristics provided by a quench solidification process even when subjected to thermal influence at the time of working. In addition, it can provide an alloy material having a high specific strength by virtue of minimized amounts of elements having a high specific gravity to be added to the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kita, Hidenobu Nagahama, Takeshi Terabayashi, Makoto Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 5667602
    Abstract: Alloy and cast alloy product ideally suited for use as a component in a vehicle frame or subframe, i.e., body-in-white, comprising an alloy consisting of about 2.00 to 5.00 wt. % magnesium, up to approximately 0.30 wt. % silicon, approximately 0.20 to 1.60 wt. % manganese, up to approximately 1.00 wt. % iron, and between about 0.10 to 0.30 wt. %, zirconium, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. The aluminum/magnesium alloy is typically solidified into ingot derived working stock by continuous casting or semi-continuous casting into a shape suitable for remelt for casting, which shape is typically an ingot billet. Excellent mechanical properties are obtained from a cast product that is not subjected to high temperature heat treating operations subsequent to casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Que-Tsang Fang, Steven A. Jones, James R. Van Wert, Roger C. Dickenson
  • Patent number: 5656105
    Abstract: The calcium-aluminum system hydrogen absorbing alloy of the present invention is an alloy which is composed of a mixture P of Ca with (optional) Mg and an Al base alloy Q, has a molar ratio P:Q of 1:1.5 to 2.8 and shows a Laves phase with the C15-type structure as the fundamental structure thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Hideaki Tanaka, Hiroshi Miyamura, Nobuhiro Kuriyama, Tetsuo Sakai, Itsuki Uehara
  • Patent number: 5647919
    Abstract: A high strength, rapidly solidified alloy consisting of aluminum and, added thereto, additive elements. The mean crystal grain size of the aluminum is 40 to 1000 nm, the mean size of particles of a stable phase or a metastable phase of various intermetallic compounds formed from the aluminum and the additive element and/or various intermetallic compounds formed from the additive elements themselves is 10 to 800 nm, and the intermetallic compound particles are distributed in a volume fraction of 20 to 50% in a matrix consisting of aluminum. The rapidly solidified alloy has an improved strength at room temperature and a high toughness and can maintain the properties inherent in a material produced by the rapid solidification process even when it undergoes a thermal influence during working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kita, Hidenobu Nagahama
  • Patent number: 5643372
    Abstract: An improvement to a process for treating an aluminum alloy for the series AA 2000 or AA 6000 comprising solution heat treating, quenching and natural or artificial aging, in which conventional heat solution heat treating is defined as solution heat treating the alloy at a temperature which is 5.degree. to 10.degree. C. below a known eutectics melting temperature for the alloy. The improvement comprises solution heat treating at a temperature which is 10.degree. to 100.degree. C. below the conventional solution heat treating temperature in order to desensitize the alloy to intercrystalline corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Pierre Sainfort, Jean Domeyne, Timothy Warner
  • Patent number: 5624632
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy product for use as a damage tolerant product for aerospace applications, including fuselage skin stock. The aluminum alloy composition contains about 3-7 wt % magnesium, about 0.03-0.2 wt % zirconium, about 0.2-1.2 wt % manganese, up to 0.15 wt % silicon and about 0.05-0.5 wt % of a dispersoid-forming element selected from the group consisting of: scandium, erbium, yttrium, gadolinium, holmium and hafnium, the balance being aluminum and incidental elements and impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Stephen F. Baumann, Edward L. Colvin, Robert W. Hyland, Jr., Jocelyn I. Petit
  • Patent number: 5618357
    Abstract: A solder material that is especially suitable for the fluxless hard soldering of aluminum-based components consists of an aluminum-based alloy that especially contains about 10 to 50 wt. % of germanium, about 1 to 12 wt. % of silicon, about 0.1 to 3 wt. % of magnesium, and about 0.1 to 3 wt. % of indium. The solder material is useful at soldering temperatures in the range from 424.degree. to about 600.degree. C., and is therefore especially suitable for the fluxless hard soldering of components made of precipitation-hardened high-strength aluminum-based materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Knepper, Olaf Scheffler
  • Patent number: 5616189
    Abstract: An alloy of aluminum containing magnesium, silicon and optionally copper in amounts in percent by weight falling within one of the following ranges:(1) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.0.8, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, 0.3.ltoreq.Cu.ltoreq.3.5;(2) 0.8.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.4, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, Cu.ltoreq.2.5; and(3) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.0, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.1.4, Cu.ltoreq.2.0; said alloyhaving been formed into a sheet having properties suitable for automotive applications. The alloy may also contain at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Fe in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Mn in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Zn in an amount of 0.3 percent by weight or less and a small amount of at least one other element, such as Cr, Ti, Zr and V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, John Fitzsimon, Michael J. Bull, Pierre H. Marois, Alok K. Gupta, David J. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 5614036
    Abstract: A high heat resisting and high abrasion resisting aluminum alloy and aluminum alloy powder have superior toughness, abrasion resistance, high temperature strength, and creep resistance and are useful to form engine parts for automobiles, airplanes, etc. The high heat resisting and high abrasion resisting aluminum alloy comprises 2 to 15 wt % of Ni, 0.2 to 15 wt % of Si, 0.6 to 8.0 wt % of Fe, one or two of 0.6 to 5.0 wt % of Cu and 0.5 to 3 wt % of Mg, the total amount of Cu and Mg being equal to or less than 6 wt %, one or two of 0.3 to 3 wt % of Zr and 0.3 to 3 wt % of Mo, the total amount of Zr and Mo being equal to or less than 4 wt %, 0.05 to 10 wt % of B, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, and is produced by powder metallurgy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyo Aluminium Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Imahashi, Hirohisa Miura, Yasuhiro Yamada, Hirofumi Michioka, Jun Kusui, Akiei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5605586
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet suitable for high-speed forming includes subjecting the alloy to a homogenization treatment, hot rolling and cold rolling the homogenization treated alloy, thereby obtaining a cold-rolled sheet, and annealing the cold-rolled sheet. The aluminum alloy contains 4.0 to 10.0 wt. % of Mg, 0.2 wt. % of inevitable impurities of Fe and Si, 0.05 wt. % of other impurity elements, and the balance of Al. Another embodiment includes deep drawing the aluminum alloy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Bekki, Minoru Hayashi, Ryo Syoji
  • Patent number: 5595615
    Abstract: A high toughness and high strength casting of an aluminum alloy, has comparatively thick portions with a thickness of 20 mm or more, 4-6% Si, 0.2-0.6% Mg, less than 0.15% Fe, not more than 0.4% Mn, by weight, residual aluminum and unavoidable impurities; Si(%).times.Mg(%) having a value of 1.2-2.8. In forming the casting, the aluminum alloy is under an atmosphere of more than atmospheric pressure during solidification and subsequently a T6 heat treatment is applied to casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Shibata, Rikizou Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5582659
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy for forging comprising from 2.0 to 3.3% by weight of Si, from 0.2 to 0.6% by weight of Mg, from 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of Ti, from 0.0001 to 0.01% by weight of B, up to 0.15% by weight of Fe, one element or at least two elements selected from the group consisting of 0.001 to 0.01% by weight of Na, 0.001 to 0.05% by weight of Sr, 0.05 to 0.15% by weight of Sb and 0.0005 to 0.01% by weight of Ca, up to 0.001% by weight of P, the P/Ca weight ratio being up to 1.0, and the remainder Al, eutectic Si contained in the cast structure of said aluminum alloy having an average particle size of up to 20 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Hashimoto, Sanji Kitaoka, Yoji Namekawa, Kiyoshi Takagi, Hideo Yoshioka, Ken Kanasashi
  • Patent number: 5578144
    Abstract: To provide a high-strength, high-ductility cast aluminum alloy, which enables a near-net shape product to be produced by improving the casting structure of an aluminum alloy, particularly by using specific constituents and controlling the cooling rate, and a process for producing the same. The high-strength, high-ductility cast aluminum alloy of the present invention is characterized in that it has a structure comprising fine grains of .alpha.-Al, having an average grain diameter of not more than 10 .mu.m, surrounded by a network of a compound of Al-lanthanide-base metal, the .alpha.-Al grains forming a domain, that the domain comprises an aggregate of .alpha.-Al grains which have been refined, cleaved, and ordered in a single direction and that it has a composition represented by the general formula Al.sub.a Ln.sub.b M.sub.c wherein a, b, and c are, in terms of by weight, respectively 75%.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95%, 0.5%.ltoreq.b<15%, and 0.5%.ltoreq.c<15%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Satou, Yukio Okochi
  • Patent number: 5573606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aluminum base die casting alloy having substantially improved mechanical properties, and a method for making die cast products from the alloy. More particularly the improved aluminum based alloy comprises 2.5-4.0% by weight magnesium, 0.2-0.6% by weight manganese, 0.25-0.6% by weight iron, 0.2-0.45% by weight silicon, less than 0.003% by weight beryllium with the remainder being aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Gibbs Die Casting Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Evans, Richard J. Hagan, William C. Routh, Roland N. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5571347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved aluminum base alloy comprising an improved aluminum base alloy comprising 0.2 to 2 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0 to 1.2 wt. % Cu, 0 to 1.1 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.4 wt. % Cr, and at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 0.3 wt. % V, 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % Be and 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, the remainder comprising aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. Also disclosed are methods of casting and thermomechanical processing of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5571344
    Abstract: An element for thermally protecting a substrate is deposited on the substrate and comprises a quasicrystalline aluminum alloy having a thermal diffusivity lower than 2.5.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s at room temperature and a thermal diffusivity, within the temperature range 650.degree.-750.degree. C., which does not exceed its thermal diffusivity at room temperature by a factor greater than 3. The element may be used to provide heat barriers or bonding layers for substrates. The heat protection element, used in the form of a heat barrier or in the form of a bond coat for neat barriers, exhibits good thermal insulation properties, good mechanical properties, a low specific mass, good resistance to corrosion, and great ease of processing. Further, the invention is useful in limiting heat transfer towards or from parts and components of fittings in many household and industrial devices, for example, heating or cooking devices, smoothing irons, automobile components, and in aeronautic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Dubois, Pierre Archambault, Bernard Colleret
  • Patent number: 5565169
    Abstract: A substantially lithium-free aluminum base alloy product having improved combinations of elongation and fracture toughness in an aged condition, the aluminum alloy product comprising at least 0.5 wt. % magnesium; 0.01 to 1 ppm Na; 0.01 to 1 ppm K; less than 0.1 ppm Rb; and less than 0.1 ppm Cs, the remainder comprising aluminum, the amount of Na, K, Rb and Cs measured by GDMS, the product in an aged condition having a grain boundary region substantially free of liquid phase eutectics comprised of Na and K that form embrittlement phases at room temperature; and an increase in fracture toughness compared to an aluminum magnesium alloy having greater amounts of Na, K, Rb and Cs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminium Limited
    Inventor: Donald Webster
  • Patent number: 5547524
    Abstract: A planar sheet of structurally hardened aluminum alloy, having, after quenching and aging, mechanical strength which varies continuously in a particularly defined direction of the planar sheet. The planar sheet is produced in a process comprising quenching and final aging, where the final aging comprises heating for a defined period of time a first portion of the plate or sheet including a first edge to a first temperature T and a second portion of the plate or sheet including an opposite edge to a second temperature t<T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventors: Pierre Sainfort, Herve Vichery, Benoit Commet
  • Patent number: 5547633
    Abstract: The specification describes a ternary alloy of aluminium. The alloy described comprises from 80 to 96% by weight of aluminium and from 4 to 20% by weight of titanium and a third element selected from the group consisting of cobalt, chromium, copper, magnesium, nickel and iron. The weight ratio of titanium to ternary alloying element lies in the range from 1:1 to 6:1. The alloy can be aged at a temperature in the range from 300.degree. to 450.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Monash University
    Inventors: Barry C. Muddle, Jianfeng Nie
  • Patent number: 5540791
    Abstract: An aluminum-alloy rolled sheet is cold preformed and then superplastically formed by: providing a composition which consists of from 2.0 to 8.0% of Mg, from 0.0001 to 0.01% of Be, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of from 0.3 to 2.5% of Mn, from 0.1 to 0.5% of Cr, from 0.1 to 0.5% of Zr, and from 0.1 to 0.5% of V, less than 0.2% of Fe as impurities, as well as aluminum and unavoidable impurities in balance; providing an unrecrystallized structure formed by annealing at a temperature of from 150.degree. to 240.degree. C. for 0.5 to 12 hours or at a temperature of from 250.degree. to 340.degree. C. for 0 to 5 minutes; providing draft of final cold-rolling amounting to 50% or more; and, providing 7% or more of elongation at normal temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sky Aluminum Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Matsuo, Tsutomu Tagata
  • Patent number: 5527404
    Abstract: An improved elongate aluminum alloy product, and a method of producing such a product, ideally suited for use as a component in a vehicle frame or subassembly, i.e., body-in-white. The alloy consists of essentially 0.45 to 0.7% magnesium, and about 0.35 to 0.6%, silicon, and about 0.1 to 0.35%, vanadium, and, 0.1-0.4% iron, preferably 0.15 to 0.3%, the balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Allison S. Warren
  • Patent number: 5523050
    Abstract: A method is described for preparing a refined or reinforced eutectic or hyper-eutectic metal alloy, comprising: melting the eutectic or hyper-eutectic metal alloy, adding particles of non-metallic refractory material to the molten metal matrix, mixing together the molten metal alloy and the particles of refractory material, and casting the resulting mixture under conditions causing precipitation of at least one intermetallic phase from the molten metal matrix during solidification thereof such that the intermetallics formed during solidification wet and engulf said refractory particles. The added particles may be very small and serve only to refine the precipitating intermetallics in the alloy or they may be larger and serve as reinforcing particles in a composite with the alloy. The products obtained are also novel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: David J. Lloyd, Iljoon Jin
  • Patent number: 5518558
    Abstract: A high Mg content Al-Mg alloy sheet for press-forming, having superior strength and deep drawing formability. The alloy has intermetallic compounds containing Cr dispersed into the metal structure thereof. The mean grain diameter of the metal structure ranges from about 5 to 30 .mu.m. The process for manufacturing the alloy is also disclosed. The composition of the alloy includes Al, Mg, Be, Cr, Ti, B, Cu Fe, Si and associated inevitable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Shoji, Yoichiro Bekki
  • Patent number: 5516382
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy useful for drawing and/or ironing, particularly of drink cans. The alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent, Fe<0.25; Si<0.25; Mn from 1.05 to 1.6; Mg from 0.7 to 2.5; Cu from 0.20 to 0.6; Cr from 0 to 0.35; Ti from 0 to 0.1; V from 0 to 0.1; other elements: each <0.05; total<0.15; and remainder Al.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventor: Guy-Michel Raynaud
  • Patent number: 5516374
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet for use in a body panel material, comprising: (a) casting a melted aluminum alloy containing Al, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti and Zr, having a Mg content of 4 to 10 weight %, and having contents of Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti and Zr which are determined by a value f satisfying the following equation (I), and the balance being Al: 0.4 wt %.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.1.5 wt % (I), wherein, f=(Fe)+1.1 (Mn)+1.1 (Cr)+3 (Ti)+3 (Zr), wherein (Fe), (Mn), (Cr), (Ti), and (Zr) respectively represent the percentage content by weight of Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti and Zr, to form an ingot; (b) hot rolling the ingot to obtain a hot rolled sheet; (c) cold rolling the hot rolled sheet at a cold reduction R satisfying the following equation (II): -log(f-0.2)+8.ltoreq.R.ltoreq.-60 log (f-0.2)+50 (II) to obtain a cold rolled sheet; (d) subjecting the cold rolled sheet to a final annealing treatment including raising the temperature of the rolled sheet to 450.degree. to 550.degree. C. at a rate of 100.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsushi Habu, Minoru Hayashi, Yoichiro Bekki
  • Patent number: 5514228
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum sheet stock which includes hot rolling an aluminum alloy sheet stock, annealing and solution heat treating it without substantial intermediate cooling and rapid quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Gavin F. Wyatt-Mair, Donald G. Harrington