Abstract: The invention concerns a method for improving aluminium alloy blank tensile yield stress and formability comprising the successive steps of: providing a 6xxx series aluminium alloy slab; optionally homogenizing the slab; hot rolling and optionally cold rolling the slab to obtain a sheet; solution heat treating and quenching the sheet; cold rolling the sheet with at least 20% cold work reduction; cutting the sheet into blanks; flash annealing a portion of the flange of the blanks at a temperature between 360° C. and 480° C. for a time sufficient to obtain recrystallization of the portion of the flange and cool to a temperature of less than 100° C. The improved blanks and the stamped product and painted stamped products obtained by the method of the invention are particularly useful for automotive applications because of their high strength.

Abstract: A strip intended for the manufacture of brazed heat exchangers, having a core made of an aluminium alloy with the composition (weight %): Si: 0.10-0.30%, preferably 0.15-0.25% Fe<0.20% Cu: 0.75-1.05%, preferably 0.75-1.02%, more preferably 0.75-1.0% Mn: 1.2-1.7%, preferably 1.2-1.55%, more preferably 1.25-1.4% Mg<0.03% preferably <0.025%, more preferably <0.015% Zn<0.1% Ti<0.15% other elements <0.05% each and <0.15% in total, remainder aluminium.

Abstract: Brazing strip or sheet comprising: a core layer made of aluminum alloy; a brazing layer made of aluminum alloy, clad on at least one face of the core layer; optionally an intermediate layer made of aluminum alloy, clad on at least one face either between the core layer and the brazing layer or the core layer without any other layer on top; characterized in that the brazing layer alloy comprises, in mass percentages: from 7 to 13% Si, at most 0.8% Fe, at most 0.45% Cu, at most 0.20% Mn, at most 0.15% Mg, at most 0.20% Zn, at most 0.20% Ti, at most 0.04% Bi, from 0.01 to 0.10% Y, from 0.01 to 0.10% Sn, remainder aluminum and impurities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of an aluminium multilayer brazing sheet which comprises a core layer made of a 3xxx alloy comprising 0.1 to 0.25 wt. % Mg, a brazing layer made of a 4xxx alloy on one or both sides of the core layer, and optionally an interlayer between the core layer and the brazing layer on one or both sides of the core layer, the process comprising the successive steps of: providing the layers to be assembled or simultaneous casting of the layers to obtain a sandwich; rolling of the resulting sandwich to obtain a sheet; and treating the surface of the sheet with an alkaline or acidic etchant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a stamped component of motor vehicle bodywork or body structure from aluminium alloy comprising the steps of producing a metal sheet or strip of thickness between 1.0 and 3.5 mm in an alloy of composition (% by weight): Si: 0.60-0.85; Fe: 0.05-0.25; Cu: 0.05-0.30; Mn: 0.05-0.30; Mg: 0.50-1.00; Ti: 0.02-0.10; V: 0.00-0.10 with Ti+V?0.10, other elements each <0.05, and <0.15 in total, remainder aluminium, with Mg<?2.67×Si+2.87, dissolving and steeping, pre-tempering, maturation for between 72 hours and 6 months, stamping, tempering at a temperature of around 205° C. with a hold time between 30 and 170 minutes or tempering at a time-temperature equivalent, painting and “bake hardening” of the paints at a temperature of 150 to 190° C. for 15 to 30 minutes.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is a method for coating a substrate made of an aluminum alloy in the AA3000 or AA5000 series, comprising the following steps: a) coating by (co-)extrusion of a polypropylene modified by maleic anhydride adhesion layer on each face of said substrate, and a surface layer made of polypropylene comprising at least one slip agent, so as to form a metalloplastic strip; b) calendering said metalloplastic strip; c) heat treatment of said metalloplastic strip; d) cooling of the metalloplastic strip, to obtain an H48 metallurgical temper and a coefficient of friction of 0.06 or less. The method being particularly suitable for the fabrication of food packaging and particularly for beverage can lids.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a 6xxx series aluminium sheet comprising the steps of homogenizing an ingot made from a 6XXX series aluminum alloy; cooling the homogenized ingot with a cooling rate in a range of from 150° C./h to 2000° C./h directly to the hot rolling starting temperature; hot rolling the ingot to a hot rolling final thickness and coiling at the hot rolling final thickness with such conditions that at least 50% recrystallization is obtained; cold rolling to obtain a cold rolled sheet. The method of the invention is particularly helpful to make sheets for the automotive industry which combine high tensile yield strength and good formability properties suitable for cold stamping operations, as well as high surface quality and high corrosion resistance with a high productivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for laser welding monolithic semi-finished products made of aluminium alloy without filler wire, known to a person skilled in the art under the name “Remote Laser Welding” comprising the following steps:—supplying at least two semi-finished products made of aluminium alloy, at least one of which is a laminated plate with the composition (% by weight): Si: 2.5-14; Fe: 0.05-0.8; Cu: 0.25-1.0; Mg: 0.05-0.8; Mn: ?0.70; Cr: ?0.35; Ti: 0.02-0.30; Sr up to 500 ppm; Na up to 200 ppm; Sb up to 0.15%, unavoidable impurities <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, remainder aluminium,—laser welding the semi-finished products made of aluminium alloy without filler wire, which process is known to a person skilled in the art under the name “Remote Laser Welding”. The invention also includes a structural, body-in-white, skin or opening component of a motor vehicle obtained by a process according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thin sheet metal for a reinforcing or structural part of a car body, consisting of an aluminum alloy. The invention also relates to the method for producing such a sheet metal and to the use of such a sheet metal for producing a reinforcing or structural part for a car body. The sheet metals according to the invention advantageously have a modulus of elasticity of at least 77 GPa.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a sheet for stamped lining or structural parts for an auto body stilled referred to as a body-in-white, made of aluminum alloy having the following composition (% by weight): Si: 0.85-1.20, Fe: <0.30, Cu: 0.10-0.30, Mg: 0.70-0.90, Mn: <0.3; Zn: 0.9-1.60, V: 0.02-0.30, Ti: 0.05-0.20, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, balance aluminum, having, after solution heat treatment, quenching, pre-aging or reversion, possible aging at ambient temperature for 72 hours to 6 months, 2% controlled tensile pre-deformation, and paint baking treatment for 20 minutes at 185° C., an elastic limit Rpo.2 of at least 300 MPa. The sheets according to the invention make it possible to reduce the thickness of the parts while still meeting all the other required properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing process of aluminum alloy beverage cans by «Drawing-Ironing», characterized in that a friction higher between the bodymaker punch and the aluminum sheet than between the ironing die and said aluminum sheet is produced by at least one of the following specificities: An aluminum sheet with an internal surface significantly higher in roughness than the external one Ironing dies with rounded intersections between infeed as well as exit surface and the land, with a smooth surface in the working area and a short width of the land A bodymaker punch with an extra roughness and an isotropic texture. It also relates to a beverage can manufactured by such a process, and characterized in that its reflectance measured at 60° is higher than 73% just after the last ironing step.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a textured-smooth hybrid metal closure cap, and a closing caps produced by the method. The method includes a) the supply of a strip or sheet, made of aluminum alloy known as a “textured” strip or sheet, typically coated on at least one of its faces by a stampable lacquer, b) a first operation for cutting discs, called blanks, c) a step for stamping, in one or more passes, of said blank metal, typically using a stamping lubricant, so as to form a stamped blank, comprising a head and a skirt, typically axially symmetric in the axial direction, d) a step for degreasing said stamped blank, typically intended to eliminate the remaining lubricant, to form a degreased blank that can be lacquered, and e) an optional step of protective lacquering and decoration. After the stamping step, and before the lacquering step, at least one drawing step consisting in passing the stamped blank through drawing rings in order to stretch and thin the metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a stamped motor vehicle bodywork or shell-structure component made of an aluminium alloy, comprising the steps of manufacturing a metal sheet or strip with a thickness of 0 to 3.5 mm made of an alloy with the following composition (wt %): Si: 0.60-0.85; Fe: 0.05-0.25; Cu: 0.05-0.30; Mn: 0.05-0.30; Mg: 0.50-0.00; Ti: 0.02-0.15; V: 0.00-0.15; other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, remainder aluminium, with Mg<?2.67×Si+2.87, solution heat treating and quenching, pre-tempering, ageing for 72 hours to 6 months, stamping, tempering at a temperature of around 205° C. with a dwell time of 180 to 480 minutes or tempering at an equivalent time and temperature, painting and “bake hardening” at a temperature of 150 to 190° C. for 15 to 30 min. The invention also relates to a stamped motor vehicle bodywork or shell-structure component, further referred to as “body in white” produced by such a method.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a beverage can, a bottle or a spray can made of aluminium alloy, by means of deep drawing-ironing followed by necking and/or bending, from a non-circular blank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the laser welding of monolithic semi-finished products made from aluminium alloy, without filler wire, known to the person skilled in the art as “remote laser welding”, comprising the following steps: supplying at least two aluminium alloy semi-finished products, of which at least one is a rolled sheet of composition (wt.-%): Si: 2.5-14, preferably 2.7-5.0; Fe: 0.05-0.80, preferably 0.15-0.60; Cu: ?0.20, preferably ?0.10, also <0.05, and even <200, also 100 ppm; Mg: 0.05-0.80, preferably 0.20-0.40; Mn: ?0.70, preferably ?0.30; Cr: <0.35; Ti: 0.02-0.30; Sr up to 500 ppm; Na up to 200 ppm; Sb up to 0.15%, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, remainder aluminium, on the condition that A: 5.2 Fe+1.95 Si?0.5 Cu?Mg?7.0; and welding semi-finished products made from aluminium alloy, without filler wire, a method known the person skilled in the art as “remote laser welding”.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for laser welding monolithic semi-finished products made of aluminium alloy without filler wire, known to a person skilled in the art under the name “Remote Laser Welding” comprising the following steps:—supplying at least two semi-finished products made of aluminium alloy, at least one of which is a laminated plate with the composition (% by weight): Si: 2.5-14; Fe: 0.05-0.8; Cu: 0.25-1.0; Mg: 0.05-0.8; Mn: ?0.70; Cr: ?0.35; Ti: 0.02-0.30; Sr up to 500 ppm; Na up to 200 ppm; Sb up to 0.15%, unavoidable impurities <0.05 each and <0.15 in total, remainder aluminium,—laser welding the semi-finished products made of aluminium alloy without filler wire, which process is known to a person skilled in the art under the name “Remote Laser Welding”. The invention also includes a structural, body-in-white, skin or opening component of a motor vehicle obtained by a process according to the invention.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing metal sealing caps comprising providing a strip or sheet of aluminum alloy of the grade known to a person skilled in the art as “brilliant” or “grand brilliant”, typically being coated on at least one of the two surfaces thereof, generally the surface intended for the inside of the cap, with a layer of stamping varnish is described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a sheet made of an aluminium alloy for manufacturing a stamped bodywork or structural part of a motor vehicle body, also referred to as a “body in white”, wherein said sheet has a yield strength Rp0.2 no lower than 60 MPa and a tensile elongation Ag0 no lower than 34%. The invention also relates to a method for making such a stamped bodywork or structural part for a motor vehicle body, made from said sheet and selected in the group including inner panels or linings for car doors, a passenger compartment floor, a boot floor, a spare wheel housing, or even a passenger compartment side.

Abstract: A cooling method for a rolling ingot of aluminum alloy after metallurgical homogenization heat treatment of said ingot and before hot rolling, characterized in that cooling by 30 to 150° C. is performed at a rate of 150 to 500° C./h, with a thermal differential of less than 40° C. throughout the treated portion of the ingot is disclosed. A facility allowing use of said method and said implementation is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the laser welding of monolithic semi-finished products made from aluminium alloy, without filler wire, known to the person skilled in the art as “remote laser welding”, comprising the following steps: supplying at least two aluminium alloy semi-finished products, of which at least one is a rolled sheet of composition (wt.-%): Si: 2.5-14, preferably 2.7-5.0; Fe: 0.05-0.80, preferably 0.15-0.60; Cu: ?0.20, preferably ?0.10, also <0.05, and even <200, also 100 ppm; Mg: 0.05-0.80, preferably 0.20-0.40; Mn: ?0.70, preferably ?0.30; Cr: <0.35; Ti: 0.02-0.30; Sr up to 500 ppm; Na up to 200 ppm; Sb up to 0.15%, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, remainder aluminium, on the condition that A: 5.2 Fe+1.95 Si?0.5 Cu?Mg?7.0; and welding semi-finished products made from aluminium alloy, without filler wire, a method known the person skilled in the art as “remote laser welding”.