Abstract: Described herein are formable, high strength, and corrosion resistant aluminum alloy compositions and products and methods of preparing and processing the same. The methods of preparing and processing the aluminum alloy products include casting an aluminum alloy and performing tailored rolling and downstream thermal processing steps. The resulting aluminum alloy compositions and products possess high strength and formability properties while also showing resistance to corrosion.

Abstract: Disclosed are magnetic rotors systems and methods for heating a substrate. The magnetic rotor includes a rotor body and at least one magnet supported on the rotor body. The rotor body is rotatable about an axis. The rotor body also defines a chamber that selectively receives a coolant within the chamber.

Abstract: An ironing system includes a ram, a sensor system, and a punch nose. The ram includes a ram body and a ram nose, and the ram includes an inner surface that defines an inner chamber. The punch nose is connected to the ram nose via the sensor, and the sensor is configured to detect a force on the punch nose during an ironing process. An adaptor may be coupled to the inner surface of the ram, and the adaptor may support the sensor on the ram body.

Abstract: A system for heat-treating a coil of metal can include a furnace, an unwinding system, and a quenching system. The furnace may receive the coil of metal and elevate a temperature of the metal to be within a pre-heated temperature range, such as a homogenizing temperature range or an annealing temperature range. The unwinding system may unwind at least a portion of the coil in a heated state in which the metal is within the pre-heated temperature range or before the metal has cooled past a threshold amount below the pre-heated temperature range. The quenching system may receive the unwound portion of the coil from the unwinding device and reduce a temperature of the unwound portion to a within a quenched temperature range within a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A can redraw and ironing system includes a ram, a punch, and a sensor system. The ram includes a ram body and a ram nose. The punch is supported on the ram nose and is configured to engage a metal blank during an ironing process. The sensor system includes a first sensor that detects a total force on the ram and a second sensor that detects a force on the ram nose.

Abstract: Disclosed are metal articles and methods of making and processing such metal articles. More particularly, disclosed are aluminum alloy articles exhibiting controllable surface properties, including excellent bond durability. An aluminum alloy article as described herein includes a surface having a concentration of an alloying element, and a coating having a concentration of an element capable of interacting with the alloying element. Also disclosed herein are methods of providing metal articles having excellent bond durability.

Abstract: Aluminum alloys, metal products made using the aluminum alloys, and methods of processing the aluminum alloys are disclosed. The disclosed alloys can be prepared using large amounts of recycled aluminum alloy content, such as up to 100% recycled content, or more. The disclosed aluminum alloys include amounts of iron, manganese, chromium, and/or silicon in excess of comparable aluminum alloys commonly made by alloying prime aluminum. Further, the disclosed alloys include ratios of a total amount of manganese and chromium to iron of greater than or about 0.60 or 0.70, which may contribute, at least partly, to desirable bending, forming, and surface properties and characteristics of metal products made using the aluminum alloys. The disclosed alloys can be used to prepare automotive and structural panels such that these products are generated using large amounts of recycled aluminum alloy content.

Abstract: A system for heat-treating a coil of metal can include a furnace, an unwinding system, and a quenching system. The furnace may receive the coil of metal and elevate a temperature of the metal to be within a pre-heated temperature range, such as a homogenizing temperature range or an annealing temperature range. The unwinding system may unwind at least a portion of the coil in a heated state in which the metal is within the pre-heated temperature range or before the metal has cooled past a threshold amount below the pre-heated temperature range. The quenching system may receive the unwound portion of the coil from the unwinding device and reduce a temperature of the unwound portion to a within a quenched temperature range within a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: Described are batteries and battery components including a cathode current collector comprising a 1xxx series aluminum alloy or an 8xxx series aluminum alloy. The cathode current collector can have a thickness of from 5 ?m to 12 ?m. In some examples, a cathode active material layer may be disposed over at least a portion of the cathode current collector. The cathode current collector may have both surfaces that are in contact with the active material layer being matte surfaces. Battery cells including the cathode current collector may retain a specific capacity above 90% of an initial specific capacity for up to 3000 cycles or more. Additionally, the battery cells including the cathode current collector may retain an energy density above 90% of an initial energy density for up to 3000 cycles or more.

Abstract: Described herein are 6xxx series aluminum alloys which exhibit high corrosion resistance while maintaining high strength-to-weight ratio, formability, and weldability. The 6xxx series aluminum alloys include Cr to improve intergranular corrosion resistance while maintaining high strength and formability. 6xxx series aluminum alloys including Cr in amount from 0.05 wt. % to 0.50 wt. % improved IGC resistance. The Cr addition in 6xxx series aluminum alloys improves the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy products formed from the aluminum alloy without causing a substantial loss in strength.

Abstract: A metal joiner system includes a power source and a metal joiner. The metal joiner includes a cleaning header, a cutting header, a joining header, and a joint finisher, each of which are communicatively coupled to the power source. The cutting header and cleaning header are configured to direct a first laser beam to prepare a joining region, and the joining header is configured to direct a second laser beam to form a joint in the joining region. A method of joining a metal substrates includes forming a joining region in abutting metal substrates, directing the first laser beam onto the joining region in a joint preparation stage, and directing the second laser beam onto the joining region to form a weld. A product of a metal joiner, a weld, has a portion of weld metal removed at the weld start and the weld crater regions.

Abstract: A direct chill (DC) casting system may be used to cast a metal ingot from a molten metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloys. The DC casting system includes a steam condensation system that condenses steam generated during a DC casting process as recycled water. The recycled water may be used for subsequent cooling of the metal ingot during the DC casting process.

Abstract: A cropping system for cropping a metal slab (102) includes at least one of a cropping length (1035, 524) system and a slab positioning system. The cropping length (1035, 524) system includes an optical sensor (118A, 118B, 318A, 318B, 518) for detecting a defect in an end (1031) of the metal slab (102), and the cropping length (1035, 524) system may determine a cropping location on the metal slab (102) based on the detected defect. The slab positioning system includes an optical sensor (118A, 118B, 318A, 318B, 518) for measuring a position of the end (1031) of the metal slab (102) relative to a cropping device of the cropping system.

Abstract: A metal joiner system includes a power source and a metal joiner. The metal joiner includes a cleaning header, a cutting header, a joining header, and a joint finisher, each of which are communicatively coupled to the power source. The cutting header and cleaning header are configured to direct a first laser beam to prepare a joining region, and the joining header is configured to direct a second laser beam to form a joint in the joining region. A method of joining a metal substrates includes forming a joining region in abutting metal substrates, directing the first laser beam onto the joining region in a joint preparation stage, and directing the second laser beam onto the joining region to form a weld. A product of a metal joiner, a weld, has a portion of weld metal removed at the weld start and the weld crater regions.

Abstract: Described are battery components including a current collector and a coating layer disposed over at least a portion of a surface of the current collector. The current collector can include a recycled content aluminum alloy. In some examples, the current collector can include from 50% to 100% recycled aluminum content. The recycled content aluminum alloy may be, for example, a 3xxx series aluminum alloy or a 5xxx series aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A metal processing system includes a roll and a control system. The roll includes a non-metal surface for contacting a metal substrate, and the control system includes a sensor for detecting a temperature of the non-metal surface of the roll. The control system also includes a controller, which receives the detected temperature from the sensor and controls the roll based on the detected temperature. A method of controlling the roll with the non-metal contact surface includes receiving a detected temperature of at least a portion of the non-metal contact surface of the roll from a sensor, and controlling the roll based on the received temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aluminum alloy products that can be riveted and possess excellent ductility and toughness properties. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the aluminum alloy products. In particular, these products have application in the automotive industry.

Abstract: Described herein are 6xxx series aluminum alloys with unexpected properties and novel methods of producing such aluminum alloys. The aluminum alloys are highly formable and exhibit high strength. The alloys are produced by continuous casting and can be hot rolled to a final gauge and/or a final temper. The alloys can be used in automotive, transportation, industrial, and electronics applications, just to name a few.

Abstract: Described herein are novel aluminum alloys including recycled aluminum alloy materials which exhibit high strength and high formability. The aluminum alloys described herein, which are suitable for use as can end stock, for example, exhibit high strength and formability despite having a lower Mg content than traditional AA5182 aluminum alloys used to produce can end stock. The present disclosure provides a cost-effective alternative to the use of AA5182 alloy for can end stock.

Abstract: A two stage dross treatment capable of being performed in a single reaction vessel is disclosed. Dross, especially white dross, can be contacted with salt flux in a rotary furnace to recover metal from the dross. This first stage can recover metal during the conversion of white dross and salt flux to salt cake. In a second stage, the furnace can be raised to a sufficiently high temperature to evaporate the salt content of the salt cake, allowing the evaporated salt to exit the furnace and be separately condensed and collected. The result of the second stage is collected salt and salt-free oxides. After removing the salt-free oxides, residual heat in the furnace and collected salt can be used for a subsequent dross treatment.