Abstract: Method of manufacturing aluminium alloy rolled sheet product with excellent formability and good paint bake hardenability, including: casting Al—Si—Mg aluminium alloy ingot including, in wt. %: Si 1.0% to 1.50%, Mg 0.10% to 0.40%; heating the ingot to above 550° C.; maintaining the ingot above 550° C. for at least about 4 hours; cooling the ingot to 460° C. to 520° C. Maintaining the ingot at 460° C. to 520° C. for less than 6 hours. Hot-rolling the ingot in one or more rolling steps to intermediate gauge of 15 to 40 mm. The hot-mill exit temperature is 370° C. to 480° C. Further hot-rolling from intermediate gauge in one or more rolling steps to final hot rolling gauge. The hot-mill exit temperature is 310° C. to 400° C. Cooling the hot-rolled material at hot rolling final gauge from hot-mill exit temperature to ambient temperature. Cold rolling the hot-rolled product to a cold-rolled product of final gauge.

Abstract: An automotive outer panel made from a 6xxx-series aluminium alloy sheet product consisting of, in wt. %: Si 0.54% to 0.75%, Mg 0.57% to 0.80%, Cu 0.03% to 0.20%, Mn 0.06% to 0.20%, Fe 0.10% to 0.25%, wherein the ratio of Fe to Mn is in a range of 1.0 to 2.30 (Fe:Mn), Cr up to 0.09%, Zn up to 0.15%, V up to 0.04%, Ti up to 0.15%, other elements and unavoidable impurities each up to 0.05%, total up to 0.2%, balance aluminium.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing aluminium alloy rolled sheet product with excellent formability and good paint bake hardenability, including: casting Al—Si—Mg aluminium alloy ingot including, in wt. %: Si 1.0% to 1.50%, Mg 0.10% to 0.40%; heating the ingot to above 550° C.; maintaining the ingot above 550° C. for at least about 4 hours; cooling the ingot to 460° C. to 520° C. Maintaining the ingot at 460° C. to 520° C. for less than 6 hours. Hot-rolling the ingot in one or more rolling steps to intermediate gauge of 15 to 40 mm. The hot-mill exit temperature is 370° C. to 480° C. Further hot-rolling from intermediate gauge in one or more rolling steps to final hot rolling gauge. The hot-mill exit temperature is 310° C. to 400° C. Cooling the hot-rolled material at hot rolling final gauge from hot-mill exit temperature to ambient temperature. Cold rolling the hot-rolled product to a cold-rolled product of final gauge.

Abstract: A rolled 6xxx-series aluminium alloy sheet product including, in wt. %: Mg 0.10-1.3%, Si 0.25-1.4%, Cu up to 0.45%, Mn up to 0.50%, Fe 0.10-0.45%, Sr 0.01-0.05%, and wherein the ratio Fe/Sr is in a range of 4 to 40, Ti up to 0.20%, Cr up to 0.30%, Zr up to 0.20%, V up to 0.20%, Zn up to 0.35%, Sn up to 0.075%, impurities and balance aluminium. A method of manufacturing the 6xxx-series aluminium alloy sheet product.

Abstract: A method of storing and transporting a set of multiple coils of 6xxx-series aluminium alloy sheet material in a T4 or T4P condition, wherein the coils are stored and transported in a housing defining a storage area adapted and configured to receive and store the coils, and wherein the housing is formed by an intermodal container and includes a temperature control unit integrated with the housing operative to control the temperature within the storage area defined by the housing to a temperature in a range of 15° C. or less.

Abstract: A method for continuously solution heat-treating aluminium alloy sheet by continuously moving heat-treatable 7000-series aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous heat-treatment furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 370° C. to 560° C., the continuous heat-treatment furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous heat-treatment furnace, and the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, and before or near the entry section of the continuous heat-treatment furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of the sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminum alloy automotive structural part or a body-in-white (BIW) part of a motor vehicle, including the steps of: providing a rolled aluminum alloy bare or composite sheet product having a gauge of about 0.5 mm to 4 mm, wherein the sheet product includes at least one layer an AA7xxx-series aluminum alloy, the sheet product having been subjected to solution heat treatment and quenching followed by at least 1 day of natural ageing; subjecting the naturally aged sheet product to reversion annealing treatment, namely a heat treatment at a temperature between 100° C. and 350° C. during 0.1 to 60 seconds; optionally subjecting the heated sheet product to forced cooling operation; within 2 hours, preferably within 30 minutes, from the reversion annealing treatment, forming the sheet product to obtain a three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part or body-in-white (BIW) part.

Abstract: A method for continuously annealing aluminum alloy sheet at final thickness by continuously moving heat-treatable AlMgSi aluminum alloy sheet through a continuous annealing furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminum sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 500° C. to 590° C., the continuous annealing furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminum sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous annealing furnace, wherein the moving aluminum sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, wherein before or near the entry section of the continuous annealing furnace the moving aluminum sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A hot-rolled semi-finished 6xxx-series aluminium alloy forging stock material having a thickness in the range of 2 mm to 30 mm, and having a composition including of, in wt. %, Si 0.65-1.4%, Mg 0.60-0.95%, Mn 0.40-0.80%, Cu 0.04-0.28%, Fe up to 0.5%, Cr up to 0.18%, Zr up to 0.20%, Ti up to 0.15%, Zn up to 0.25%, impurities each <0.05%, total <0.2%, balance aluminium, and wherein it has a substantially unrecrystallized microstructure. A method of manufacturing such 6xxx-series hot-rolled aluminium alloy forging stock material. Furthermore, a method of forging a shaped product from the 6xxx-series aluminium alloy forging stock material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing aluminium alloy rolled sheet with excellent formability and suitable for an automotive body, the method including: casting an ingot of aluminium alloy of, in wt. %: Si 0.5 to 1.5, Mg 0.2 to 0.7, Fe 0.03 to 0.30, Cu up to 0.30, optionally one or more elements selected from the group of: (Mn, Zr, Cr, V), Zn up to 0.3, Ti up to 0.15, impurities and aluminium; homogenising the cast ingot at 450° C. or more; hot rolling the ingot to a hot-rolled product; cold rolling the hot-rolled product to a cold-rolled product of intermediate gauge; continuous intermediate annealing the cold-rolled product of intermediate gauge in the range of 360-580° C.; cold rolling the intermediate annealed cold-rolled product to a sheet of final gauge up to 2.5 mm; solution heat treating the sheet; and quenching the solution heat treated sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminum alloy structural part or a body-in-white (BIW) part of a motor vehicle. The method includes: providing a rolled aluminum sheet product wherein the aluminum alloy is an AA7000-series aluminum alloy and has a gauge in a range of 0.5-4 mm and is subjected to a solution heat treatment and has been cooled, forming the aluminum alloy sheet to obtain a three-dimensional formed part, heating the three-dimensional formed part to at least one pre-ageing temperature between 50-250° C., and subjecting the formed and pre-aged motor vehicle component to a paint bake cycle.

Abstract: A method for producing a joint in at least two overlapping metal work pieces using a joining tool to obtain a mechanical joint between the overlapping work pieces, in particular joining by mechanical folding or pressure joining At least one of the first work piece and second work piece is a sheet material made of an aluminum alloy of the AA7000-series. A heat-treatment is applied to at least the work piece of 7000-series sheet material within 120 minutes prior to the production of the joint and/or for at least part of the time during production of the joint to temporarily reduce the tensile strength in the joining area of at least the work piece of said 7000-series sheet material.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy rolled sheet product for forming into automotive body panels, and having a yield strength of more than 160 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle, and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm, and preferably 0.7 to 3.5 mm, and having a composition of, in wt. %: Zn 1.5 to 4.0, Mg 0.3 to 1.5, Cu 0 to 1.0, Ti 0 to 0.15, Fe 0 to 0.35, Si 0 to 0.5, other elements and unavoidable impurities, and balance aluminum. An automotive body part formed from such an aluminum sheet. A method of manufacturing an automotive body part. Also, the use of the aluminum alloy sheet product in such a method of manufacturing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing aluminium alloy rolled sheet with excellent formability and suitable for an automotive body, the method including: casting an ingot of aluminium alloy of, in wt. %: Si 0.5 to 1.5, Mg 0.2 to 0.7, Fe 0.03 to 0.30, Cu up to 0.30, optionally one or more elements selected from the group of: (Mn, Zr, Cr, V), Zn up to 0.3, Ti up to 0.15, impurities and aluminium; homogenising the cast ingot at 450° C. or more; hot rolling the ingot to a hot-rolled product; cold rolling the hot-rolled product to a cold-rolled product of intermediate gauge; continuous intermediate annealing the cold-rolled product of intermediate gauge in the range of 360-580° C.; cold rolling the intermediate annealed cold-rolled product to a sheet of final gauge up to 2.5 mm; solution heat treating the sheet; and quenching the solution heat treated sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clad sheet product, ideally suitable for automotive body sheet, including a core sheet and a cladding layer on one or both core sheet surfaces, the core sheet has an aluminum alloy of the AA6000-series alloys and at least one cladding consisting of an aluminum alloy of the AA6000-series alloys having a Cu-content of less than 0.25 wt. %.

Abstract: A method for producing a joint in at least two overlapping metal work pieces using a joining tool to obtain a mechanical joint between the overlapping work pieces, in particular joining by mechanical folding or pressure joining At least one of the first work piece and second work piece is a sheet material made of an aluminum alloy of the AA7000-series. A heat-treatment is applied to at least the work piece of 7000-series sheet material within 120 minutes prior to the production of the joint and/or for at least part of the time during production of the joint to temporarily reduce the tensile strength in the joining area of at least the work piece of said 7000-series sheet material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminium composite sheet material in which a clad sheet is applied to at least one side of a core material. The core material has an aluminium alloy the AA5xxx- or AA6xxx-series, and the clad sheet has an aluminium alloy selected from the group of the AA1xxx-series, AA3xxx-series and AA7xxx-series with less than 1.5 wt. % of Zn.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminium alloy body-in-white (“BIW”) part of a motor vehicle, the BIW part having a yield strength of more than 500 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle. The method includes providing a rolled aluminium sheet product of an AlZnMgCu alloy and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm and subjected to a solution heat treatment (SHT) and quenched following SHT, and wherein the SHT and quenched aluminium sheet product has a substantially recrystallized microstructure, forming the aluminium alloy sheet to obtain a formed BIW part, assembling the formed BIW part with one or more other metal parts to form an assembly forming a motor vehicle component, subjecting the motor vehicle component to a paint bake cycle, wherein the aluminium alloy sheet in the formed BIW part has a yield strength of more than 500 MPa.

Abstract: Automotive body sheet in the form of an aluminum composite sheet material wherein a clad sheet is applied to at least one side of a core material, and wherein the core material is of an aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of AA2xxx, AA5xxx and AA7xxx-series alloys, and wherein the clad sheet includes an AA6xxx-series alloy having less than 0.2 wt. % Cu or an AA5xxx-series alloy having less than 3.6 wt. % of Mg.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a formed aluminum alloy body-in-white (“BIW”) part of a motor vehicle, the BIW part having a yield strength of more than 500 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle. The method includes (a) providing a rolled aluminum sheet product of an AlZnMgCu alloy and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm and subjected to a solution heat treatment (SHT) and quenched following SHT, and wherein the SHT and quenched aluminum sheet product has a substantially recrystallized microstructure, (b) forming the aluminum alloy sheet to obtain a formed BIW part, (c) assembling the formed BIW part with one or more other metal parts to form an assembly forming a motor vehicle component, (d) subjecting the motor vehicle component to a paint bake cycle, wherein the aluminum alloy sheet in the formed BIW part has a yield strength of more than 500 MPa.