Abstract: The invention relates to a strip or sheet of aluminium alloy, comprising at least 80% by weight of aluminium and 0.01 to 0.5% yttrium and/or 0.05 to 0.5% bismuth, coated on at least one face with a brazing alloy. Said sheets and strips are used for the production of pieces by non-flux brazing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an alloy containing aluminum including, as a % by weight, 2.1 to 2.4% of Cu, 1.3 to 1.6% of Li, 0.1 to 0.5% of Ag, 0.2 to 0.6% of Mg, 0.05 to 0.15% of Zr, 0.1 to 0.5% of Mn, 0.01 to 0.12% of Ti, optionally at least one element chosen from among Cr, Sc, and Hf, the quantity of the element, if it is chosen, being from 0.05 to 0.3% for Cr and Sc, 0.05 to 0.5% for Hf, a quantity of Fe and Si each less than or equal to 0.1 and inevitable impurities at a rate of less than or equal to 0.05 each and 0.15 in total. The alloy can be used to produce extruded, rolled and/or forged products particularly suitable for the manufacture of elements for the lower wing skin of aircrafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a casting process for an aluminum alloy containing at least about 0.1% of Mg and/or at least about 0.1% of Li in which a liquid surface of said alloy is put into contact with a dried gas including at least about 2% of oxygen by volume and with a water partial pressure lower than about 150 Pa throughout most of the solidification process. The invention makes it possible to cast the most oxidable aluminum alloys, in particular aluminum alloys containing magnesium and/or lithium, without using additives such as beryllium and/or calcium and without using expensive devices and/or gases, to obtain cast ingots generally free from surface defects and pollution, in complete safety.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought product such as an extruded, rolled and/or forged aluminum alloy-based product comprising, in weight %: Cu: 3.0-3.9; Li: 0.8-1.3; Mg; 0.6-1.0; Zr: 0.05-0.18; Ag: 0.0-0.05; Mn: 0.0-0.5; Fe+Si?0.20; Zn?0.15; at least one element from among: Ti: 0.01-0.15; Sc: 0.05-0.3; Cr: 0.05-0.3; Hf: 0.05-0.5; other elements ?0.05 each and ?0.15 total, remainders aluminum. The invention also relates to the process for producing said product. The products according to the invention are particularly useful in the production of thick aluminum products intended for producing structural elements in the aeronautical industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a work-hardened product, particularly a rolled, extruded or forged product, made of an alloy with the following composition (% by weight): Cu 3.8-4.3; Mg 1.25-1.45; Mn 0.2-0.5; Zn 0.4-1.3; Fe<0.15; Si<0.15; Zr?0.05; Ag<0.01, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, remainder Al, treated by dissolution, quenching and cold strain-hardening, with a permanent deformation of between 0.5% and 15%, and preferably between 1.5% and 3.5%. Cold strain-hardening can be achieved by controlled tension and/or cold transformation, for example rolling, die forging or drawing. This cladded metal plate type product is a suitable element to be used as aircraft fuselage skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aluminum-lithium alloys in general and, in particular, such products as used in the aircraft industry and the welding of these.

Abstract: A process for friction stir welding at least a first part made of metal alloy A with at least a second part made of a dissimilar metal alloy B, in which the first and second parts are placed side by side, and a joint is made between the first and second parts using a rotating tool moving at a speed referred to as the travel speed. The tool travel speed has at least two alternated modes in continuous service, a first mode wherein a first average travel speed S1 and a second mode wherein a second average travel speed S2 is used, the speeds S1 and S2 being significantly different, typically at least 30% of the highest travel speeds, with the slowest advance speed being zero. The assemblies welded according to the invention are particularly advantageous for the fabrication of panels or structural sections used in the manufacture of transport vehicles.

Abstract: A vertical casting process for an intermediate product, including the steps of (a) preparation of at least two aluminum based alloys, particularly a first alloy with composition P and a second alloy with composition T, (b) casting of the first alloy with composition P to a required height HP, and (c) casting of an additional required height HT of the alloy with composition T. The object of this invention is the manufacture of monolithic structural elements with working properties that are variable in at least one direction, and particularly bi-functional or multi-functional structural elements capable of performing at least two functions that are traditionally performed by two different parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy strip or sheet with the following composition (% by weight): Si 0.3-1.0; Fe<1.0; Cu 0.3-1.0; Mn 0.3-2.0; Mg 0.3-3.0; Zn<6.0; Ti<0.1; Zr<0.3; Cr<0.3; Ni<2.0; Co<2.0; Bi<0.5; Y<0.5, other elements <0.05 each and 0.15 total, the remainder being aluminum, coated on at least one face with an aluminum brazing alloy containing 4 to 15% of silicon and 0.01 to 0.5% of at least one of the Ag, Be, Bi, Ce, La, Pb, Pd, Sb, Y elements or mischmetal. Sheets and strips according to the invention can be used particularly for fluxless brazing of heat exchangers.

Abstract: A skip for the transport, storage and handling of granular materials (such as sand, gravel and earth) including a base and lateral walls. At least part of the base is a sheet of metal that has been imprinted with one or more relief patterns on one face thereof, with the sheet being disposed such that the pattern is in contact with the granular material during the transport or unloading of the granular material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought product such as an extruded, rolled and/or forged aluminum alloy-based product, comprising, in weight %: Cu: 3.0-3.9; Li: 0.8-1.3; Mg: 0.6-1.0; Zr: 0.05-0.18; Ag: 0.0-0.5; Mn: 0.0-0.5; Fe+Si?0.20; Zn?0.15; at least one element from among: Ti: 0.01-0.15; Sc: 0.05-0.3; Cr: 0.05-0.3; Hf: 0.05-0.5; other elements ?0.05 each and ?0.15 total, remainder aluminum. The invention also relates to the process for producing said product. The products according to the invention are particularly useful in the production of thick aluminum products intended for producing structural elements in the aeronautical industry.

Abstract: A method of assembling aluminum alloy products, such as sheets, strips or tubes, by means of fluxless brazing, where the absence of flux is made possible by using a prior treatment resulting in formation of a conversion layer on the surface of the products. The treatment involves using a solution containing K+ and F? ions and at least one acid in a quantity such that the pH of the solution is less than 3. The inventive method enables effective flux was brazing in industrial conditions, such as a for the production of heat exchangers used in motor vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bi-functional extruded structural element, particularly a stringer for aeronautical construction, comprising a base that can be fixed on a surface, and a body, wherein the base comprises a first aluminum-based alloy, and further wherein the body comprises a second heat treatable aluminum-based alloy, having properties that are different from the properties of the first aluminum based alloy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a substantially unrecrystallized rolled aluminum alloy product, obtained from a plate with a thickness of at least 30 mm, comprising 2.2 to 3.9 wt. % Cu, 0.7 to 2.1 wt. % Li, 0.2 to 0.8 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0.04 to 0.18 wt. % Zr, less than 0.05 wt. % Zn, and optionally 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % Ag, remainder aluminum and unavoidable impurities having a low propensity to crack branching during L-S a fatigue test. A product of the invention has a crack deviation angle ? of at least 20° under a maximum equivalent stress intensity factor Keff max of 10 MPa ?m for a S-L cracked test sample under a mixed mode I and mode II loading wherein the angle ? between a plane perpendicular to the initial crack direction and the load direction is 75°.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for manufacturing metal sheets or plates and a machined metal part as well as machined products, structural components and their uses in various applications. Manufacture of a metal sheet or plate by a process of the present invention comprises casting of a rolling ingot, optionally followed by homogenisation, one or more hot or cold rolling operations, optionally separated by one or more re-heating operations, to obtain a sheet, or plate and optionally one or more sheet or plate cutting or finishing operations. The sheet is pre-machined on one or both sides so as to obtain a pre-machined stock, and subjected to solution heat treatment, quenching treatment, and optionally, one or more of the following steps: controlled stretching, aging treatment, and/or cutting.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a method for assembling aluminum alloy parts, in which (i) at least a first aluminum alloy part is procured in a solution heat treated, quenched, optionally cold worked, and naturally aged at ambient temperature or pre-aged temper, and at least a second aluminum alloy part, (ii) said parts are welded to obtain a welded assembly having a welded zone, (iii) cold working the entire welded zone between 0.3% and 5% is performed, (iv) the welded assembly thus cold worked undergoes post-weld aging to obtain a final metallurgical temper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting process for an aluminum alloy containing at least about 0.1% of Mg and/or at least about 0.1% of Li in which a liquid surface of said alloy is put into contact with a dried gas including at least about 2% of oxygen by volume and with a water partial pressure lower than about 150 Pa throughout most of the solidification process. The invention makes it possible to cast the most oxidable aluminum alloys, in particular aluminum alloys containing magnesium and/or lithium, without using additives such as beryllium and/or calcium and without using expensive devices and/or gases, to obtain cast ingots free from surface defects and pollution, in complete safety.

Abstract: A process for making Al—Zn—Mg alloy products, and products formed according to such processes are disclosed. The present invention provides a product having an improved compromise between mechanical characteristics and corrosion strength.

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: An extruded product, particularly a drawn tube made from an alloy of the 6XXX series with the following composition, in weight %: Mg: 0.4-0.7, Si: 0.4-0.7, Fe: 0.1-0.3, Zn: 0.16-0.3, Ti: 0.12-0.3, Mn<0.10, Cu<0.05, Cr<0.05, Ni<0.05. others<0.05 each and <0.15 in total, remainder being aluminum, with the ratio Si/Mg between 0.9 and 1.3. The tubes are advantageously used for cabin air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles using CO2 as refrigerant gas. In such systems, the product offers an advantageous combination of good mechanical properties at operating temperatures and high resistance to perforating corrosion necessary for extended operating life without leaks.