Abstract: The present invention relates to the reduction of artificial aging time of 7xxx series alloys. Currently, the artificial aging times for typical 7xxx series alloy can be as long as 24 hrs. The current invention allows for a significant reduction of aging times, thereby saving time, energy, money and storage space hence increasing the productivity.

Abstract: A high proof stress aluminum alloy extrusion material having superior bendability and crack resistance. The high proof stress aluminum alloy extrusion material is an aluminum alloy comprising: 5.0 to 7.0 wt % of zinc; 0.5 to 1.5 wt % of magnesium; 0.05 to 0.3 wt % of copper; no greater than 0.15 wt % of zirconium; 0.1 to 0.4 wt % of iron; 0.05 to 0.4 wt % of silicon; with the balance being Al and impurities, in which at least 90% of a metallographic structure is a recrystallized structure.

Abstract: An insulated wire which comprises an aluminum conductor, having: an adhesion layer formed by directly baking, on the aluminum conductor, varnish containing a carboxy group; an insulation layer as an outer layer of the adhesion layer; and a reinforcement insulation layer as an outer layer of the insulation layer; and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: A dual-chambered molten metal holding furnace is for low pressure casting; producing cast products such as aluminum alloys using a low pressure casting method; and prevention of the gas release to the molten metal and the occurrence of air bubbles in the molten metal even when pressurized gas enters a material constituting the molten metal storage container. The part of a pressurizing chamber excluding a pressurizing pipe and a molten metal output pipe is opened to the atmosphere via an air passage gap positioned above a fixed molten metal surface level position L3. The air passage gap is positioned above the fixed molten metal surface level position L3. Even if pressurized gas is seeped into the material constituting a molten metal storage container via cracks or cracking subsequently occurred in the pressurizing pipe or minute gap originally present in the pressurizing pipe, the pressurized gas seeped from the air passage gap is released to the outside of the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a process for the heat treatment of a cylinder head-type casting made from an aluminum alloy, in particular an alloy of aluminum, of silicon and of magnesium, and where appropriate of copper, comprising the steps of: —solution annealing (L) of the part for a time between three and ten hours; —quenching (S) of the part in air or in a fluidized bed; —tempering (H) of the part at the peak of resistance, or in the vicinity of the peak of resistance to attain a level of resistance of the part at least equal to 85% of the maximum level of resistance at the tempering temperature in question. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to the castings obtained at the end of the process according to the invention, and which have an improved fatigue resistance.

Abstract: Aluminum alloys having an improved combination of properties are provided. In one aspect, a method for producing the alloy includes preparing an aluminum alloy for artificial aging and artificially aging the alloy. In one embodiment, the artificially aging step includes aging the aluminum alloy at a temperature of at least about 250° F., and final aging the aluminum alloy at a temperature of not greater than about 225° F. and for at least about 20 hours.

Abstract: A method, structure, and/or material composition associated with overetching a structure or allow of interest to deplete magnesium content at and in a vicinity of grain boundaries which mitigates or prevents corrosion including, for example, intergranular corrosion (IGC) and/or intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). Another aspect of the invention can include a process and material composition associated with providing a particular coating having a number of material properties. Additional steps, material composition(s), and/or exemplary structure(s) can also be provided which provides a nano coating over the depletion zone having a first coating in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy casting material for heat conducting is provided, wherein the thermal conductivity is improved of an aluminum alloy casting material whereof the castability is improved by the addition of silicon where said invention is characterized by being an aluminum alloy casting material with excellent thermal conductivity, comprising 5-10.0% by mass of silicon, 0.1-0.5% by mass of magnesium and the remainder comprising aluminum and inevitable impurities, and whereon aging treatment has been performed.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy and a method for improving the ability of a semi-finished or finished product to age artificially, includes an age-hardenable aluminum alloy on an Al—Mg—Si, Al—Zn, Al—Zn—Mg or Al—Si—Mg basis, wherein the aluminum alloy is transformed to a solid solution state, in particular by solution heat treatment (1), is quenched and subsequently forms precipitations by a process of natural aging (3), the method involving at least one measure for reducing a negative effect of natural aging (3) of the aluminum alloy on artificial aging (4) thereof.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy comprises aluminum, magnesium, scandium, and an enhancing system. The magnesium is from about 0.5 percent to about 10.0 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy. The scandium is from about 0.05 percent to about 10.0 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy. The enhancing system is from about 0.05 percent to about 1.5 percent by weight based on the aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy products having improved ballistics performance are disclosed. The aluminum alloy products may be underaged. In one embodiment, the underaged aluminum alloy products realize an FSP resistance that it is better than that of a peak strength aged version of the aluminum alloy product. In one embodiment, ballistics performance criteria is selected and the aluminum alloy product is underaged an amount sufficient to achieve a ballistics performance that is at least as good as the ballistics performance criteria.

Abstract: A casting apparatus for a cylinder head and heat treatment method for a cylinder head manufactured by the apparatus is provided. The casting apparatus for a cylinder head is connected with a mold by a pressing unit and a connection pipe and casts a product by pressing and injecting molten metal into the mold. A heat treatment method for the cylinder head manufactured by the apparatus includes: a molten metal supply unit that stores and stabilizes supplied molten metal and a pressing unit that is separately formed from the molten metal supply unit, receives the stabilized molten metal from the molten metal supply unit, and supplies the molten metal to the mold. In addition, a stopper that is soaked in the molten metal in the molten metal supply unit controls the amount of molten metal sent to the pressing unit.

Abstract: Aluminum castings having increased elongation and tensile strength are obtained by sequential aging a solutionized casting followed by rapid heating to nucleation temperature followed by rapid cooling, then reheating to precipitate growth temperature.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing mechanical properties of aluminum alloy high pressure die castings are disclosed herein. An aluminum alloy composition forming a casting comprises, by weight of the composition, at least one of a magnesium concentration greater than about 0.2%, a copper concentration greater than about 1.5%, a silicon concentration greater than about 0.5%, and a zinc concentration greater than about 0.3%. After solidification, a casting is cooled to a quenching temperature between about 300° C. and about 500° C. Upon attainment of the quenching temperature, the casting is removed from the die and immediately quenched in a quench media. Following quenching, the casting is pre-aged at a reduced temperature between about room temperature and about 100° C. Thereafter, the casting is aged via at least one substantially isothermal aging at one or more elevated temperatures between about 150° C. and about 240° C.

Abstract: A method for heat-treating a cast component composed of an aluminum base alloy, in which method the cast component is annealed at a predetermined annealing temperature for a predetermined annealing period in a first heat transfer medium and then transferred into a water bath. Between being annealed and transferred into the water bath, the cast component is transferred into a second heat transfer medium at a predetermined intermediate cooling temperature, where it is held for a predetermined intermediate cooling period.

Abstract: Aluminum or aluminum alloy sputter targets and methods of making same are provided. The pure aluminum or aluminum alloy is mechanically worked to produce a circular blank, and then the blank is given a recrystallization anneal to achieve desirable grain size and crystallographic texture. A 10-50% additional strain is provided to the blank step after the annealing to increase the mechanical strength. Further, in a flange area of the target, the strain is greater than in the other target areas with the strain in the flange area being imparted at a rate of about 20-60% strain. The blank is then finished to form a sputtering target with desirable crystallographic texture and adequate mechanical strength.

Abstract: Aluminum die casting alloy comprising 2 to 6% by weight nickel, 0.1 to 0.4% by weight zirconium, 0.1 to 0.4% by weight vanadium, optionally up to 5% by weight manganese, optionally up to 2% by weight iron, optionally up to 1% by weight titanium, optionally total max. 5% by weight transition elements including scandium, lanthanum, yttrium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, chromium and/or molybdenum, and aluminum as the remainder with further elements and impurities due to production total max. 1% by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat treatment method for a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the method includes heating the cylinder block to a solution heat treatment temperature, processing the cylinder block at the solution heat treatment temperature between 440° C. to 460° C. for one to two hours, quenching the cylinder block and then immediately aging the cylinder block for a predetermined amount of time.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for non-isothermally aging an aluminum alloy are provided. The method comprises heating an aluminum alloy at a first ramp-up rate to a maximum temperature below a precipitate solvus value, cooling the alloy at a first cooling rate sufficient to produce a maximum number of primary precipitates, cooling at a second cooling rate until a minimum temperature is reached wherein the growth rate of primary precipitates is equal to or substantially zero, and heating the alloy at a second ramp-up rate to a temperature sufficient to produce a maximum number of secondary precipitates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the heat treatment of metal strip material providing mechanical properties that differ over the width of the strip, wherein the strip is heated and cooled and optionally over-aged during a continuous annealing process. At least one of the following parameters in the process differs over the width of the strip: heating rate, top temperature, top temperature holding time, cooling trajectory after top temperature; or, when over-aging is performed, at least one of the following parameters in the process differs over the width of the strip: heating rate, top temperature, top temperature holding time, cooling trajectory after top temperature, over-aging temperature, over-aging temperature holding time, lowest cooling temperature before over-aging, re-heating rate to over-aging temperature. Also, at least one of the cooling trajectories follows a non-linear temperature-time path. Also disclosed is strip material thus produced.

Abstract: An Al—Mg—Si based aluminum alloy sheet having undergone normal-temperature aging (or being in a underaged state) after a solution treatment thereof is, before press forming, subjected to a heating treatment (partial reversion heating treatment) in which the alloy sheet is partially heated to a temperature in the range of 150 to 350° C. for a time of not more than 5 minutes so that the difference in strength (difference in 0.2% proof stress) between the heated part and the non-heated part will be not less than 10 MPa. The alloy sheet thus treated is subjected to cold press forming in the condition where the heated part with low strength is put in contact with a wrinkle holding-down appliance of the press and the non-heated part with high strength is put in contact with the shoulder part (radius) of the punch. In the partial reversion heating treatment, the temperature rise rate and the cooling rate in cooling down to 100° C. or below are set to be not less than 30° C./min.

Abstract: A frame member for use in a two-wheeled vehicle and an all-terrain vehicle that includes a plurality of Al members each made of a 7000 series Al alloy having a high strength is provided in which weld crack sensitivity is reduced and a weld joint having an excellent strength is provided. The alloy composition of the 7000 series Al alloy, which provides the Al member, containing Cu: 0.01 to 0.50%, Mg: 0.5 to 2.1%, and Zn: 4.0 to 8.5%, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities. Further, in the production of the frame member, the plurality of Al members are integrated by welding using a filler metal containing Mg: 5.5 to 8.0%, Cr: 0.05 to 0.25%, Ti: 0.25% or less, Si: 0.4% or less, Fe: 0.4% or less, Cu: 0.1% or less, Zr: 0.05% or less and Zn: 0.25% or less, and with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an aluminum-based anode, including at least one alloying element, prepared using solid solution heat treatment, in addition to plastic deformation, artificial aging, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of accomplishing precipitation hardening of a selected portion of an aluminum panel is disclosed herein. The method includes identifying at least one area of the aluminum panel that experiences thermal stress above a threshold value during a bake cycle, thereby identifying the selected portion. Prior to the bake cycle, the method further includes locally heating the selected portion at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time sufficient to increase a local yield strength of the selected portion such that the increased local yield strength ranges from 150 MPa to 300 MPa.

Abstract: A heat treatment method for the direct quench of aluminum alloy castings is presented. An aluminum alloy casting can be heated to the solutionizing temperature. The temperature can be maintained for a period of time sufficient to dissolve the hardening elements into the aluminum solid solution and affect any morphological changes to non-soluble phases, such as speriodization of the eutectic silicon phase. After solutionizing, the aluminum alloy casting can be quenched. The aluminum alloy casting can be rapidly cooled from the solutionizing temperature directly to the aging temperature, eliminating the room temperature hold of a conventional process. Thereby, the process can reduce process steps and equipment, can improve throughput, and can eliminate some waste heat. Further, the process can reduce residual stress and can provide a potential to form new precipitates. Direct quench can also be used with the sequential aging of aluminum casting alloys.

Abstract: A cast aluminum alloy containing up to about 0.35% by weight chromium is heated to a first elevated temperature to homogenize the casting and dissolve the chromium content in an aluminum-based matrix phase. The alloy is then heated at a lower elevated temperature to cause the precipitation of a portion of the chromium as an aluminum-containing and chromium-containing intermetallic compound. A suitable amount of chromium is retained in solid solution in aluminum. Thus, the concentration of dissolved chromium in an aluminum alloy may be controlled to fall within specified ranges which result in improvements in both the strength and ductility of the alloy. Impurity amounts of iron may also be precipitated as intermetallic particles from the aluminum matrix to enhance the ductility of the aluminum-based alloy.

Abstract: A wear-resistant aluminum alloy material excellent in workability and wear-resistance is provided. A wear-resistant aluminum alloy material excellent in workability includes Si: 13 to 15 mass %, Cu: 5.5 to 9 mass %, Mg: 0.2 to 1 mass %, Ni: 0.5 to 1 mass %, P: 0.003 to 0.03 mass %, and the balance being Al and inevitable impurities. An average particle diameter of primary Si particles is 10 to 30 ?m, an area occupancy rate of the primary Si particles in cross-section is 3 to 12%, an average particle diameter of intermetallic compounds is 1.5 to 8 ?m, and an area occupancy rate of the intermetallic compounds in cross-section is 4 to 12%.

Abstract: Manufacturing heat-treatable wrought metal plate having length, width and thickness directions and an engineering properties gradient along at least one plate dimension. Rolled, extruded or forged wrought metal plate is solution heat treated and rapidly cooled. The cooled plate is aged by heat treatment for time to arrive at different tempers across at least one plate dimension (length or width). Controlled heat-input into the plate along its length direction raises plate temperature above ambient temperature to temperature T1, and a temperature gradient is applied between temperature T2 and T3, wherein T2>T3, across at least one direction of the plate by controlled heat-input into the plate from one side (width or thickness) of the plate to temperature T2 and controlled cooling to temperature T3 from the plate at the opposite side of the controlled heat-input, and ageing the plate while applying the temperature gradient between T2 and T3.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process for producing an aluminum alloy material, whereby reduction in toughness and in fatigue strength of the aluminum alloy material can be inhibited even after solution treatment is provided. Also, the following is provided: a process for producing an aluminum alloy material comprising at least the steps of subjecting a heat treatable aluminum alloy material to solution treatment and applying aging treatment to the aluminum alloy material subjected to solution treatment, which further comprises the following step between the solution treatment step and the aging treatment step: the step of subjecting the aluminum alloy material to plastic forming in a manner such that a given amount of equivalent strain is imparted to the aluminum alloy material from at least two directions while the aluminum alloy material subjected to solution treatment is maintained under temperature conditions that do not cause softening of the aluminum alloy material by over-aging.

Abstract: A method of providing solution heat treatment to an aluminum alloy. A non-isothermal process is used to provide a faster heat treatment cycle time while maintaining or further improving the alloy mechanical properties after subsequent aging hardening. The process includes establishing a temperature inside a processing vessel that is greater than a soaking temperature but less than a liquidus temperature of the alloy, rapidly heating the alloy to the soaking temperature in a first heating operation, reducing the temperature inside of the processing vessel to the soaking temperature, then heating the alloy to a temperature above the soaking temperature through a gradually increasing temperature in a second heating operation. Protocols for the improved solution heat treatment may be based on one or more of computational thermodynamics, dissolution kinetics and coarsening kinetics.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy casting material for heat conduction obtained by adding Si to an aluminum alloy casting material with enhanced castability thereby realize enhancement of thermal conductivity. There is provided an aluminum alloy casting material excelling in heat conduction. characterized in that it comprises 5 to 10.0 mass % of Si, 0.1 to 0.5 mass % of Mg and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, the aluminum alloy casting material having undergone an aging treatment. Further, there is provided a cast aluminum alloy casting material that while having castability and mechanical strength equivalent to or higher than those of conventional cast aluminum alloys, is also enhanced in heat conduction; and provided a process for producing the cast aluminum alloy. In particular, there are provided a cast aluminum alloy and process for producing the same, wherein Si is contained in an amount of 6.0 to 8.0 mass %, the elements other than Si and Al each in simple form in an amount of ?0.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy products having improved ballistics performance are disclosed. The aluminum alloy products may be underaged. In one embodiment, the underaged aluminum alloy products realize an FSP resistance that it is better than that of a peak strength aged version of the aluminum alloy product. In one embodiment, ballistics performance criteria is selected and the aluminum alloy product is underaged an amount sufficient to achieve a ballistics performance that is at least as good as the ballistics performance criteria.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are shown for heat treating a rolling stock (3), particularly a strip, made of an age-hardenable aluminium alloy, particularly an alloy of the 6000 series, wherein the rolling stock (3) in the process of passing through an apparatus (1) is fed to a solution annealing operation and a quenching operation, and in a subsequent step the rolling stock (3) is subjected to hot exposure for age hardening. In order to provide advantageous conditions for the method it is proposed that in a first step during the hot exposure the rolling stock (3) which is in the process of passing through the apparatus (1) is heated, whereupon in a further step the heated rolling stock (3) is further subjected to the hot exposure.

Abstract: A method of accomplishing precipitation hardening of a selected portion of an aluminum panel is disclosed herein. The method includes identifying at least one area of the aluminum panel that experiences thermal stress above a threshold value during a bake cycle, thereby identifying the selected portion. Prior to the bake cycle, the method further includes locally heating the selected portion at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time sufficient to increase a local yield strength of the selected portion such that the increased local yield strength ranges from 150 MPa to 300 MPa.

Abstract: A lightweight armor plate having a contiguous ceramic layer that absorbs and disperses energy from a projectile. Therefore, the ceramic layer is generally considered to be the front of armor plate. The ceramic plate receives the impact of the projectile, such as but not limited to, bullets and shrapnel. In the case of bullets, for example, the tip of the bullet is deformed and the pressure load is reduced by contact with the ceramic plate. Plate further includes a hardened metal layer situated behind, and fixedly attached to, contiguous ceramic layer and designed and constructed to prevent penetration by projectile. The high plastic elasticity of this hardened metal layer completely absorbs the rest of the kinetic energy of the bullet through deformation and heat. Attachment of ceramic layer and hardened metal layer is preferably by use of an adhesive.

Abstract: A cast aluminum alloy containing up to about 0.35% by weight chromium is heated to a first elevated temperature to homogenize the casting and dissolve the chromium content in an aluminum-based matrix phase. The alloy is then heated at a lower elevated temperature to cause the precipitation of a portion of the chromium as an aluminum-containing and chromium-containing intermetallic compound. A suitable amount of chromium is retained in solid solution in aluminum. Thus, the concentration of dissolved chromium in an aluminum alloy may be controlled to fall within specified ranges which result in improvements in both the strength and ductility of the alloy. Impurity amounts of iron may also be precipitated as intermetallic particles from the aluminum matrix to enhance the ductility of the aluminum-based alloy.

Abstract: Methods and technologies to maximize the aging response and the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys are provided. In one embodiment, the aging process for the slowly-quenched aluminum alloys includes, but is not limited to, at least a two-stage solution treatment and a two-stage aging hardening. In the solution treatment, the components are first heat treated at an initial solution treatment temperature and then gradually heated up to about 5° C. to about 30° C. above the initial solution treatment temperature for the material. For the aging treatment, the castings/components are first aged at a lower temperature followed by a higher temperature for the subsequent aging stages. The temperature increase during solution treatment and/or aging can be in steps, in a continuous manner, or combinations thereof. Another embodiment includes a two stage aging process in which there is a non-isothermal aging step.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided methods for the manufacture of aluminum alloy plates having reduced levels of residual stress as well as plates and products employing such plates. Processes of the present invention involve providing a solution heat-treated and quenched aluminum alloy plate with a thickness of at least 5 inches, and stress relieving the plate by performing at least one compressing step at a total rate of 0.5 to 5% permanent set along the longest or second longest edge of the plate. In the method, the dimension of the plate where the compression step is performed is along the longest or second longest edge of the plate, which is preferably no less than twice and no more than eight times the thickness of the plate. In further accordance with the present invention, there are provided stress-relieved alloys and plates that are provided with superior Wtot properties as well as reduced residual stress and heterogeneity values.

Abstract: A method of heat-treating a casting made of an aluminum-based alloy including an alloy of aluminum, silicon, and magnesium comprising heat treating the casting at a first temperature range for a first duration; gradually cooling the casting to a second temperature having a second temperature range; maintaining the casting at the second temperature range for a second duration; quenching the casting; and age hardening the casting.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy having an improved combination of properties are provided. In one aspect, a method for producing the alloy includes preparing an aluminum alloy for artificial aging and artificially aging the alloy. In one embodiment, the artificially aging step includes aging the aluminum alloy at a temperature of at least about 250° F., and final aging the aluminum alloy at a temperature of not greater than about 225° F. and for at least about 20 hours. These aluminum alloys realize an improved combination of properties, including improved strength with at least equivalent fatigue crack growth resistance.

Abstract: A first step of performing solution treatment to a pipe material of a precipitation-hardening type aluminum alloy of high hardness extruded, a second step of performing spinning work to the solution-treated pipe material, and a third step of performing artificial aging to the spinning-worked pipe material.

Abstract: A heat treatment method for the direct quench of aluminum alloy castings is presented. An aluminum alloy casting can be heated to the solutionizing temperature. The temperature can be maintained for a period of time sufficient to dissolve the hardening elements into the aluminum solid solution and affect any morphological changes to non-soluble phases, such as speriodization of the eutectic silicon phase. After solutionizing, the aluminum alloy casting can be quenched. The aluminum alloy casting can be rapidly cooled from the solutionizing temperature directly to the aging temperature, eliminating the room temperature hold of a conventional process. Thereby, the process can reduce process steps and equipment, can improve throughput, and can eliminate some waste heat. Further, the process can reduce residual stress and can provide a potential to form new precipitates. Direct quench can also be used with the sequential aging of aluminum casting alloys.

Abstract: A method of providing solution heat treatment to an aluminum alloy. A non-isothermal process is used to provide a faster heat treatment cycle time while maintaining or further improving the alloy mechanical properties after subsequent aging hardening. The process includes establishing a temperature inside a processing vessel that is greater than a soaking temperature but less than a liquidus temperature of the alloy, rapidly heating the alloy to the soaking temperature in a first heating operation, reducing the temperature inside of the processing vessel to the soaking temperature, then heating the alloy to a temperature above the soaking temperature through a gradually increasing temperature in a second heating operation. Protocols for the improved solution heat treatment may be based on one or more of computational thermodynamics, dissolution kinetics and coarsening kinetics.

Abstract: A process from tempering large aluminum lithium alloy component parts to achieve high strength capability and resistance to stress corrosion cracking without the need for the prior art step of cold working the alloy components parts. The process achieves the desired material properties by the use of two novel soaking time periods and the use of novel controlled temperature selection at the two respective soaking times as well as carefully controlling the temperature decrease from one soaking time period to the other.

Abstract: Aluminum castings having increased elongation and tensile strength are obtained by sequential aging a solutionized casting followed by rapid heating to nucleation temperature followed by rapid cooling, then reheating to precipitate growth temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum casting alloy with a composition including 4%-9% Si; 0.1%-0.7% Mg; less than or equal to 5% Zn; less than 0.15% Fe; less than 4% Cu; less than 0.3% Mn; less than 0.05% B; less than 0.15% Ti; and the remainder consisting essentially of aluminum. The inventive AlSiMg composition provides increased mechanical properties (Tensile Yield Strength and Ultimate Tensile Strength) in comparison to similiarly prepared E357 alloy at room temperature and high temperature. The present invention also includes a shaped casting formed from the inventive composition and a method of forming a shaped casting from the inventive composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of metallurgy, in particular to high strength weldable alloys with low density, of aluminium-copper-lithium system. These alloys can be used in air- and spacecraft engineering. The alloy comprises copper, lithium, zirconium, scandium, silicon, iron, beryllium, and at least one element from the group including magnesium, zinc, manganese, germanium, cerium, yttrium, titanium. A method for fabricating semiproducts is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for non-isothermally aging an aluminum alloy are provided. The method comprises heating an aluminum alloy at a first ramp-up rate to a maximum temperature below a precipitate solvus value, cooling the alloy at a first cooling rate sufficient to produce a maximum number of primary precipitates, cooling at a second cooling rate until a minimum temperature is reached wherein the growth rate of primary precipitates is equal to or substantially zero, and heating the alloy at a second ramp-up rate to a temperature sufficient to produce a maximum number of secondary precipitates.

Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.