Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strip of aluminium or an aluminium alloy for electrolytically roughened lithographic printing plates, in which the alloy is continuously cast as a strip and then rolled to final thickness, is such that the cast strip is rolled to final thickness with a thickness reduction of at least 90% without any further heating. The resultant microstructure in the region close to the surface of the strip leads to improved electrolytic etching behaviour.

Abstract: A process for improving 6XXX alloys, such as 6013, preferably includes heating, hot rolling, inter-rolling thermal treatment at a very high temperature such as 1020° F. or more, again hot rolling (with or without subsequent continuous hot rolling or cold rolling or both), solution heat treating and artificial aging. The initial heating, inter-rolling, thermal treatment and solution treatment, especially the latter two, are carried out at very high temperatures such as 1030° F. Each aforesaid hot rolling stage produces substantial metal thickness reduction. The improved sheet or plate product has a substantially reduced occurrence of reduced density features revealed in scanning electron microscope examination at 500× and exhibits improved (reduced) fatigue crack growth rate providing an advantage in aerospace applications such as fuselage skin, especially fuselage belly skin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing highly worked pieces of AlCuMg alloy, comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A process for improving 6XXX alloys, such as 6013, preferably includes heating, hot rolling, inter-rolling thermal treatment at a very high temperature such as 1020° F. or more, again hot rolling (with or without subsequent continuous hot rolling or cold rolling or both), solution heat treating and artificial aging. The initial heating, inter-rolling, thermal treatment and solution treatment, especially the latter two, are carried out at very high temperatures such as 1030° F. Each aforesaid hot rolling stage produces substantial metal thickness reduction. The improved sheet or plate product has a substantially reduced occurrence of reduced density features revealed in scanning electron microscope examination at 500× and exhibits improved (reduced) fatigue crack growth rate providing an advantage in aerospace applications such as fuselage skin, especially fuselage belly skin.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing of an aluminum-magnesium-lithium product, comprising the steps of subsequently: (a) providing an aluminum alloy consisting of (in weight %): Mg 3.0-6.0, Li 0.4-3.0, Zn up to 2.0, Mn up to 1.0, Ag up to 0.5, Fe up to 0.3, Si to 0.3, Cu up to 0.3, 0.02-0.5 selected from the group consisting of (Sc 0.010-0.40, Hf 0.010-0.25, Ti 0.010-0.25, V 0.010-0.30, Nd 0.010-0.20, Zr 0.020-0.25, Cr 0.020-0.25, Y 0.005-0.20, Be 0.0002-0.10), balance consisting essentially of aluminum and incidental elements and impurities; (b) casting the aluminum alloy into an ingot; (c) preheating the ingot; (d) hot rolling the preheated ingot to a hot worked intermediate product; (e) cold rolling the hot worked intermediate product to a rolled product in both the length and in the width direction with a total cold rolling reduction of at least 15%; (f) solution heat treating the cold rolled product in the temperature range of 465 to 565° C. for a soaking time in the range of 0.

Abstract: Clad sheet made up of a core sheet and a cladding layer on one or two core sheet surfaces. The core sheet is formed of an alloy having the composition (% by weight) Si: 0.7-1.3, Mg: 0.6-1.2, Cu: 0.5-1.1, Mn: 0.15-1.0, Zn<0.5, Fe<0.5, Zr<0.2, Cr<0.25, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, the remainder aluminum. The cladding is formed of an AlZn alloy having a thickness of between 1 and 15% of the clad sheet thickness, having the composition (% by weight) Zn: 0.25-0.7, Fe<0.40, Si<0.40, Cu, Mn, Mg, V or Ti <0.10, other elements <0.05 each and 0.15 total.

Abstract: A process for improving 6XXX alloys, such as 6013, preferably includes heating, hot rolling, inter-rolling thermal treatment at a very high temperature such as 1020° F. or more, again hot rolling (with or without subsequent continuous hot rolling or cold rolling or both), solution heat treating and artificial aging. The initial heating, inter-rolling, thermal treatment and solution treatment, especially the latter two, are carried out at very high temperatures such as 1030° F. Each aforesaid hot rolling stage produces substantial metal thickness reduction. The improved sheet or plate product has a substantially reduced occurrence of reduced density features revealed in scanning electron microscope examination at 500× and exhibits improved (reduced) fatigue crack growth rate providing an advantage in aerospace applications such as fuselage skin, especially fuselage belly skin.

Abstract: A method of producing a shoe for a swash plate type compressor, the shoe being disposed between a swash plate and a piston of the swash plate type compressor and formed of an aluminum alloy, the method comprising: a main forging step of forging a blank for producing the shoe into a roughly-shaped precursor shoe; a thermal refining step of thermally refining the roughly-shaped precursor shoe; and a size-adjustment forging step of forging the roughly-shaped precursor shoe which has been thermally refined, into a size-adjusted shoe.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy structural plate excelling in strength and corrosion resistance, in particular, resistance to stress corrosion cracking, and a method of manufacturing the aluminum alloy plate. This aluminum alloy structural plate includes 4.8-7% Zn, 1-3% Mg, 1-2.5% Cu, and 0.05-0.25% Zr, with the remaining portion consisting of Al and impurities, wherein the aluminum alloy structural plate has a structure in which grain boundaries with a ratio of misorientations of 3-10° is 25% or more at the plate surface. The aluminum alloy structural plate is manufactured by: homogenizing an ingot of an aluminum alloy having the above composition; hot rolling the ingot; repeatedly rolling the hot-rolled product at 400-150° C. so that the degree of rolling is 70% or more to produce a plate with a specific thickness, or repeatedly rolling the hot-rolled product at a material temperature of 400-150° C. in a state in which rolls for hot rolling are heated at 40° C.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strip of aluminium or an aluminium alloy for electrolytically roughened lithographic printing plates, in which the alloy is continuously cast as a strip and then rolled to final thickness, is such that the cast strip is rolled to final thickness with a thickness reduction of at least 90% without any further heating. The resultant microstructure in the region close to the surface of the strip leads to improved electrolytic etching behaviour.

Abstract: A method of producing aluminum alloy sheet product includes casting a slab or ingot, homogenizing the cast slab, and hot rolling the homogenized slab to provide an intermediate gauge product. The temperature and other operating parameters of the hot rolling process are controlled so that the temperature of the ingot at the beginning of hot rolling is maintained at a temperature between 925° F. (496° C.) and 1025° F. (552° C.), and the temperature of the intermediate gauge product exiting the hot rolling step is between about 500° F. (260° C.) and 600° F. (316° C.). The intermediate gauge product is then subjected to a cold reduction of 45% to 70%, annealed, and cold rolled to final gauge.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum sheet stock which includes hot rolling an aluminum alloy sheet stock, quenching and coiling the feedstock. Then, in a second sequence, the feedstock is uncoiled, annealed and quenched to a temperature for cold rolling.

Abstract: An Al—Mg—Si—Cu aluminum alloy plate excelling in strength and formability and exhibiting improved filiform corrosion resistance which is suitably used for automotive body panels. The aluminum alloy plate contains 0.25-0.6% of Mg (mass %, hereinafter the same), 0.9-1.1% of Si, 0.6-1.0% of Cu, and at least one of 0.20% or less of Mn and 0.10% or less of Cr, with the balance consisting of Al and impurities, wherein the number of Q phases (Cu—Mg—Si—Al phases) with a size of 2 &mgr;m or more in diameter present in a matrix is 150 per mm2 or more. The aluminum alloy plate is fabricated by homogenizing an ingot of an aluminum alloy having the above composition at 530° C. or more, cooling the ingot to 450° C. or less at a cooling rate of 30° C./hour or less, hot-rolling the ingot, cold-rolling the hot-rolled product, and providing the cold-rolled product with a solution heat treatment.

Abstract: A method for making a superplastically formable, aluminum alloy product which consists essentially of: about 2-3.8 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: about 0.11-1.0 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 about 0.0001-0.003/sec and a superplastic forming temperature between about 1000-1100° F. due, in part to the preferred thermomechanical processing steps applied to its intermediate plate or slab product forms.

Abstract: Methods of improving the corrosion resistance and hot working productivity of AA7000 series aluminum alloys include, in one mode, the steps of treating a stock material to form a globular microstructure, preferably by a thermal conversion treatment, and subsequently hot working the treated stock material, quenching it and aging it. The globular microstructure permits increasing the hot working rate to attain T6 properties using only a T5 temper practice and without adverse effect on the surface of the hot worked product as a result of the increased hot working rate. Consequently, an acceptable product is made at a significantly lower cost due to the increased hot working rates and fewer processing steps. The method also improves the corrosion resistance, particularly exfoliation corrosion resistance, of the product such that corrosion resistance generally attainable using only a T7 temper practice is achieved using only a T5 temper practice.

Abstract: The invention relates to a product comprising an aluminum base alloy consisting of (in weight %): Cu 3.8-4.9, Mg 1.2-1.8, Mn 0.1-0.9, Fe max. 0.12, Si max. 0.10, Ti max. 0.15, Zn max. 0.20, Cr max. 0.10, impurities each max. 0.05, total max. 0.15, balance aluminum. The product having a minimum L-0.2%yield strength of 300 MPa or more, a minimum LT-0.2%yield strength of 270 MPa, a minimum T-L fracture toughness KC(ao) of 100 MPa.m or more for a 700 mm wide CCT-panel, and has in both L/ST- and LT/ST-sections an average grain size of at least 6 according to ASTM E-112. Further the invention relates to a method for the manufacturing of such a product.

Abstract: A continuously cast and rolled sheet of an aluminum alloy having Mg in a content of 3 to 6% by weight is annealed, followed by strain correction, heat and hold treatment at a given temperature between 240° C. and 340° C. for one hour or more, and slowly cooling treatment, to thereby provide an aluminum alloy sheet having enhanced resistance to stress corrosion cracking and improved shape fixability. The slowly cooling treatment is carried out at a cooling rate chosen from a preset cooling zone corresponding to a present temperature zone S defined in obliquely lined surround form in the accompanying drawing.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum alloy fin stock material, comprising the steps of continuously strip casting an aluminum finstock alloy to form an as-cast strip, rolling the as-cast strip to form a sheet article of intermediate gauge, annealing the sheet article of intermediate gauge, and cold rolling the annealed sheet article of intermediate gauge to produce an aluminum finstock material of final gauge. The steps are carried out on a finstock alloy which comprises the following elements in weight percent: Fe 1.6 to 2.4; Si 0.7 to 1.1; Mn 0.3 to 0.6; Zn 0.3 to 2.0; Ti 0.005 to 0.040; incidental elements less than 0.05 each, total no more than 0.15; and the balance aluminum. The invention also relates to the finstock material so-produced which has good thermal conductivity, and is suitable for use in thin gauge (e.g. less than 100 &mgr;m, and preferably 60±10 &mgr;m).

Abstract: A bimetallic strip for a sliding bearing having a sliding strip of an aluminum alloy which is adhered to a steel supporting strip and method of manufacture. The composition of the sliding strip is from 3 to 30% of tin; from 1 to 6% of silicon and the remainder being of aluminum and impurities, and the sliding strip has at least 95% of the silicon hard particles smaller than 3.5 microns and an aluminum grain average size of about 6 microns. The sliding strip is produced by roll casting the alloy and attaching the sliding strip to the steel supporting strip to form the bimetallic strip which is heat treated between 200° and 380° C. to obtain a metallurgical bonding between the strips; subjecting the bimetallic strip to a solubilizing process of the intermetallic compounds of the aluminum alloy by heating at 380-500° C., followed by cooling; and subjecting the bimetallic strip to a precipitation treatment at a temperature from 150° to 250° C.

Abstract: The film boiling state of a refrigerant is maintained for a time longer than in the prior art by t to lower the nuclear boiling start temperature to a temperature at which the material proof strength of a work exceeds thermal stress, thereby lowering the cooling rate of the work. In addition, by controlling the cooling rate in hardening, the film boiling state of the refrigerant is maintained to a temperature at which the material proof strength exceeds thermal stress, thereby cooling the work at a temperature equal to or higher than the critical cooling rate of the work.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising: about 0.8 to about 1.5 wt. % silicon, about 0.15 to about 0.65 wt. % magnesium, about 0.00 to about 0.1 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to about 0.3 wt. % iron; and the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities; (b) working the body to produce a the sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is preformed at a temperature greater than 460.degree. C. and the sheet is quenched by a water spray. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of formability, strength and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A process of producing an aluminum alloy sheet product suitable for forming into automotive parts and exhibiting reduced roping effects. The process involves producing an aluminum alloy sheet product by direct chill casting an aluminum alloy to form a cast ingot, homogenizing the ingot, hot rolling the ingot to form and intermediate gauge product, cold rolling the intermediate gauge product to form a product of final gauge, and subjecting the final gauge product to a solutionizing treatment by heating the product to a solutionizing temperature, followed by a pre-aging step involving cooling the product to a coiling temperature above 50.degree. C., coiling the cooled product at the coiling temperature, and cooling the coiled final gauge product from the coiling temperature above 50.degree. C. to ambient temperature at a rate less than about 10.degree. C. per hour to improve T8X temper characteristics of the product.

Abstract: A heat treatable 7000 series aluminum alloy has a micro-structure with a crystal grain size of 45 .mu.m or less and an aspect ratio (longitudinal/long transverse ratio of crystal grain) of preferably 4 or less, whereby its corrosion resistance is improved outstandingly by applying a solution heat treatment and hardening and subsequently, applying an aging treatment at 100 to 145.degree. C. for 5 to 50 hr, a reversion treatment at 140 to 195.degree. C. for 0.5 to 30 hr. and a re-aging treatment at 100 to 145.degree. C. for 5 to 50 hr. to thereby make an electroconductivity to 38-40 IACS %, and render the micro-structure so as to have a minimum distance for the .eta. phase on the crystal grain boundary of 20 nm or more and a maximum size for the .eta.' phase in the crystal grain of 20 nm or less.

Abstract: Aluminum brazing alloy composition is (in wt. %): Mn 0.7-1.5, Cu 0.5-1.0, Fe not more than 0.4, Si not more than 0.15, Mg up to 0.8, V and/or Cr up to 0.3, Ti up to 0.1, others up to 0.05 each, 0.15 total, balance A1 of at least commercial purity. Improved properties include: post-brazed strength and sag resistance; corrosion resistance; ability to withstand interannealing and some homogenization.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of (a) heating the cast strip before, during or after hot rolling to a temperature in excess of the output temperature of the cast strip from the chill blocks and (b) stabilization or back annealing in an induction heater of cold rolled strip produced from the cast strip. The alloy composition has a relatively low magnesium content yet possesses superior strength properties.

Abstract: A treatment process for a composite comprising a matrix of a precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy and a particulate or short fiber ceramic reinforcement. The process includes hot and/or cold working the composite, subjecting the composite to a controlled heating step in which the composite is raised from ambient temperature to a temperature of from 250 to 450.degree. C. at a rate of temperature increase less than 1000.degree. C. per hour, and subjecting the resulting heat treated composite to a solution treating step.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum product comprising providing stock including an aluminum alloy comprising about 4.0 to 4.4 wt. % copper, about 1.25 to 1.5 wt. % magnesium, about 0.35 to 0.5 wt. % manganese, not more than 0.12 wt. % silicon, not more than 0.08 wt. % iron, not more than 0.06 wt. % titanium, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; hot working the stock; annealing at 725-875.degree. F.; cold rolling; solution heat treating; cooling; holding for at least 12 hours at room temperature; and cold working from about 4% to 7% thereby producing a product having increased strength and toughness properties.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising: about 0.8 to about 1.5 wt. % silicon, about 0.15 to about 0.65 wt. % magnesium, about 0.00 to about 0.1 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to about 0.3 wt. % iron; and the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities; (b) working the body to produce a the sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is preformed at a temperature greater than 460.degree. C. and the sheet is quenched by a water spray. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of formability, strength and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing aluminum can body stock involving the following steps. A molten aluminum alloy is prepared, the alloy containing Mg in the range 1.1 to 1.5% by weight, Mn in the range 0.4 to 0.9% by weight, Cu in the range 0.2 to 0.4% by weight, Fe in the range 0.2 to 0.7% by weight, Si in the range 0.07 to 0.3% by weight, all other elements each less than 0.05% by weight to a maximum of 0.2% for all other elements. The alloy is cast in a continuous strip casting process to produce a slab having a thickness of at least 9 mm. The slab is rolled using at least 83% reduction to produce a re-roll strip. The re-roll strip is coiled to form a coil and the coil to cool is allowed to cool naturally. The re-roll strip is then annealed and cold rolled to a final gauge of between 0.26 and 0.4 mm, using a reduction of between 75 and 85%, with no interanneal. The resulting strip can be used as can body stock having a 45 degree earing of less than 3% and a yield strength after stoving of at least 38.

Abstract: A product comprising an aluminum base alloy including about 3.8 wt. % copper, about 1.2 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.6 wt. % manganese, not more than about 0.15 wt. % silicon, not more than about 0.12 wt. % iron, not more than about 0.1 wt. % titanium, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having at least 5% improvement over 2024 alloy in fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate, corrosion resistance, and formability properties.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum product having high formability high fracture toughness, high strength and improved corrosion resistance, the method comprising: (a) providing stock including an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of about 0.7 to 1.0 wt. % silicon, not more than about 0.3 wt. % iron, not more than about 0.5 wt. % copper, about 0.8 to 1.1 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.4 wt. % manganese, and about 0.5 to 0.8 wt. % zinc, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; (b) homogenizing the stock at a temperature ranging from about 950.degree. to 1050.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 2 to 20 hours; (c) hot rolling at a temperature ranging from about 750.degree. to 950.degree. F. will increase; (d) solution heat treating at a temperature ranging from about 1000.degree. to 1080.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 5 minutes to one hour; (e) cooling by quenching at a rate of about 1000.degree. F./second to a temperature of 100.degree. F.

Abstract: Aluminum/lithium alloys displaying excellent weldability while also exhibiting isotropic physical properties is produced by including greater than 0.25 weight percent scandium and processing by a combination of low temperature hot working, recrystallization, optional cold working, and artificial aging. The alloy materials are particularly useful as aircraft and spacecraft components such as fuel tanks.

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.

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.

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, 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.

Abstract: A continuously cast and rolled aluminum alloy substrate for an electrolytically grainable lithographic printing plate, consisting of 0.20 to 0.80 wt. % of Fe and the balance of Al, grain-refining elements and unavoidable impurities including 0.3 wt. % or less of Si and 0.05 wt. % or less of Cu, the amount of Fe present in solid solution being not more than 250 ppm, the amount of Si present in solid solution being not more than 150 ppm, and the amount of Cu present in solid solution being not more than 120 ppm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making aluminum alloy sheet product with improved paintbake response during automotive paintbake cycles, resistance to natural aging and better formability includes rapidly heating the aluminum alloy sheet product between a solution heat treating/quenching operation and a sheet coiling operation. Performing the rapid heating at this stage in the sheet manufacture minimizes the adverse effect of early natural aging (dwell time) on the paintbake response of these types of aluminum sheet alloy products. According to the invention, this dwell time is minimized by the application of a rapid heating step immediately following quenching from the solution heat treatment. After the aluminum sheet product has been rapidly heated, it is immediately coiled and cools under ambient conditions in coil form, this ambient cooling providing a pre-aging treatment which contributes to the improved performance of the sheet product in paintbake response, improved formability and natural aging resistance.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum article comprising the steps of: (a) providing stock including an aluminum alloy comprising about 1.0 to 1.3 wt.% silicon, about 0.40 to 0.80 wt.% magnesium, about 0.02 to 0.20 wt.% of an element selected from the group consisting of manganese and chromium, not more than about 0.70 wt.% copper, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; (b) hot rolling the stock at a temperature ranging from about 980.degree. to 1025.degree. F. to obtain a gauge thickness ranging from about 0.20 to 0.10 inches; (c) solution heat treating at a temperature ranging from about 1000.degree. to 1030.degree. F. for a time period of about 3 to 10 minutes; (d) rapid quenching at a rate of about 500.degree. F./second to a threshold temperature of about 200.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 2 to 10 minutes; (e) cooling to room temperature at a rate above 1.8.degree. F.

Abstract: A method for making aluminum alloy can stock from continuously cast aluminum alloy slabs includes the steps of continuous casting, hot rolling, hot line annealing, cold rolling, intermediate annealing and cold rolling to final gauge. After the material is cold rolled to final gauge, it is subjected to a heat treatment step which improves its formability. The method is suited for improved AA3000 series type alloys. Besides improved formability, the inventive method also provides increased alpha phase content and low earing percentage for improvements in can manufacture. An improved aluminum alloy product also is disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising about 0.8 to about 1.3 wt. % silicon, about 0.2 to about 0.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.5 to about 1.8 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.01 to about 0.2 wt. % iron, the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities: (b) working the body to produce a sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is performed at a temperature greater than 840.degree. F. and the sheet is rapidly quenched. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of excellent formability and good strength.

Abstract: AA 7000 series alloys having high mechanical strength and a process for obtaining them. The alloys contain, by weight, 7 to 13.5% Zn, 1 to 3.8% Mg, 0.6 to 2.7% Cu, 0 to 0.5% Mn, 0 to 0.4% Cr, 0 to 0.2% Zr, others up to 0.05% each and 0.15% total, and remainder Al. Either wrought or cast alloys can be obtained, and the specific energy associated with the DEA melting signal of the product is lower than 3 J/g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength aluminum alloy suitable for use in the manufacture of a fin, said aluminum alloy containing at most 0.1% by weight of Si, 0.10 to 1.0% by weight of Fe, 0.1 to 0.50% by weight of Mn, 0.01 to 0.15% by weight of Ti, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, intermetallic compounds having a diameter not larger than 0.1 .mu.m being distributed within the metal texture of the alloy in a number density of at least 10/.mu.m.sup.3. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a high strength aluminum alloy suitable for use in the manufacture of a fin, comprising the steps of heating to 430.degree. to 580.degree. C. an aluminum alloy ingot of the composition noted above, applying a hot rolling treatment to said aluminum alloy ingot to obtain a plate material before the temperature of the aluminum alloy ingot is lowered by at most 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising: about 0.8 to about 1.5 wt. % silicon, about 0.2 to about 0.65 wt. % magnesium, about 0.02 to about 0.1 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to about 0.2 wt. % iron; and the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities; (b) working the body to produce a the sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is preformed at a temperature greater than 860.degree. F. and the sheet is quenched by a water spray. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of formability, strength and corrosion resistance.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy sheet stock including two sequences of continuous, in-line operations. The first sequence includes the continuous, in-line steps of hot rolling, coiling, coil self-annealing and the second sequence includes the continuous, in-line steps of uncoiling, quenching without intermediate cooling, cold rolling, and coiling.

Abstract: An improved high strength aluminum alloy product having good combinations of strength, toughness, corrosion resistance and the ability to be subjected in sheet or strip form to roll forming or shaping operations to produce elongate stringer or other aerospace structural reinforcing members. The alloy consists essentially of about 7.6 to 8.4% zinc, about 1.8 to 2.2% magnesium, about 2 to 2.6% copper and at least one element selected from zirconium, vanadium and hafnium present in a total amount not exceeding about 0.5%, preferably about 0.05 to 0.25% zirconium, the balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. The improved strip is preferably produced by homogenizing, hot rolling and thermally treating or annealing at about 750.degree. to 850.degree. F., preferably around 800.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for producing an aluminum alloy in the form of mass includes: preparing as a material to be formed a mixed powder of aluminum and at least one kind of metal or non-metallic substance selected from the elements belonging to Groups 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 7a and 8a of the periodic table and boron, or a compact or a cast material formed of the mixed powder; placing the material to be formed in a die, and performing plastic deformation repeatedly on the material to be formed at 100.degree. to 400.degree. in an inert atmosphere while retaining at least part of the material to be formed in a confined state, so as to cause diffusion reaction between phases constituting the material to be formed, thereby forming the quasi-stable phase composed mainly of amorphous phases and/or supersaturated solid solution phases.

Abstract: A method of producing aluminum alloy sheet product includes casting a slab, homogenizing the cast slab, and hot rolling the homogenized slab to provide an intermediate gauge product. The temperature and other operating parameters of the hot rolling process are controlled so that the temperature of the intermediate gauge product exiting the hot rolling step is between about 500.degree. F. and 650.degree. F. Preferably, the temperature does not exceed 575.degree. F. The intermediate gauge product is then subjected to a cold reduction of 45% to 70%, annealed, and cold rolled to final gauge. The combination of controlling the hot rolling to provide a desired exit temperature of the intermediate gauge product and annealing prior to cold rolling to final gauge minimizes or eliminates the appearance of ridging or roping line defects in the aluminum sheet product when subjected to further straining in a forming or stamping operation.