Abstract: Metal work rolls texturized with engineered textures can impart desired impression patterns on metal strips. Engineered textures can be controlled with particularity to achieve desired surface characteristics (e.g., lubricant trapping, coefficient of friction, or surface reflectivity) on work rolls and metal strips, and to allow for impression patterns to be imparted on metal strips during high percentages of reduction of thickness (e.g., greater than about 5% or greater than about 15%, such as around 30%-55%). Engineered textures can be applied by focusing energy beams at specific points of an outer surface of a work roll to impart texture elements on the work roll. In some cases, an engineered texture element that can be used to generate a generally circular impression element can be generally elliptical in shape, having a length that is shorter than its width by a factor dependent on the reduction of thickness percentage.

Abstract: Provided are new high strength 6xxx aluminum alloys and methods of making aluminum sheets thereof. These aluminum sheets may be used to fabricate components which may replace steel in a variety of applications including the transportation industry. In some examples, the disclosed high strength 6xxx alloys can replace high strength steels with aluminum. In one example, steels having a yield strength below 340 MPa may be replaced with the disclosed 6xxx aluminum alloys without the need for major design modifications.

Abstract: A laminate aluminium/multilayer biaxially oriented polyester film with successively: M—an aluminum support; C—an amorphous layer C having a copolyester PET-G—which the diol units include Ethylene Glycol EG—units and CycloHexaneDiMethanol CHDM—units; B—a crystallizable layer B having: a copolyester PET-X which the diol units include Ethylene Glycol EG—units and which the acid units include Terephtalic Acid TA—units and units of at least one Dicarboxylic Acid Different From Terephtalic Acid [DADFTA units], the DADFTA units being chosen in the group consisting of Isophtalic Acid IA—units, Sebacic Acid SA—units, Adipic Acid AA—units, and mixtures thereof; and possibly a polyester PolyEthyleneTerephtalate PET; A—optionally a layer A, identical or different from the layer B i. the concentration of the CHDM units in the layer C has between 18 and 34 mol %; ii. the melting temperature of the layer B is comprised between 180 and 245° C.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aluminum alloy products and methods of making the aluminum alloy products. Specifically, disclosed herein is an aluminum alloy provided in a temper achieved by rapidly quenching the aluminum alloy product after hot rolling. The aluminum alloys provided in the tempers described herein allow an end user to further process the aluminum alloys using less time and requiring less energy.

Abstract: Provided are new high strength 6xxx and 7xxx series aluminum alloys and methods of making aluminum products thereof. These aluminum products may be used to fabricate components which may replace steel in a variety of applications including the automotive industry. In some examples, the disclosed high strength 6xxx and 7xxx series aluminum alloys can replace high strength steels with aluminum. In one example, steels having a yield strength below 450 MPa may be replaced with the disclosed 6xxx or 7xxx series aluminum alloys without the need for major design modifications.

Abstract: A method of hot forming an aluminum alloy component may include heating the aluminum alloy component in a heating furnace to a solutionizing temperature, cooling the aluminum alloy component to a desired forming temperature, deforming the aluminum alloy component into a desired shape in a forming device while the aluminum alloy component is at the desired forming temperature, maintaining a constant temperature during the deformation of the aluminum alloy component, and quenching the aluminum alloy component to a low temperature below a solvus temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Abstract: Systems and methods of threading a metal substrate on a rolling mill include receiving a coil of the metal substrate. The method also includes uncoiling the metal substrate from the coil while the coil and guiding the metal substrate to a work stand of the rolling mill with a threading system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of threading a metal substrate on a rolling mill include receiving a coil of the metal substrate. The method also includes uncoiling the metal substrate from the coil while the coil and guiding the metal substrate to a work stand of the rolling mill with a threading system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of threading a metal substrate on a rolling mill include receiving a coil of the metal substrate. The method also includes uncoiling the metal substrate from the coil while the coil and guiding the metal substrate to a work stand of the rolling mill with a threading system.

Abstract: A measuring device for non-mechanical-contact measurement of a layer, the measuring device including a light source operative to generate a pulse adapted to interact with the layer so as to generate a thermal wave in a gas medium present adjacent the layer. The thermal wave causes an acoustic signal to be generated. The measuring device further includes a detector adapted to detect a first signal responsive to the acoustic signal, the detector not being in mechanical contact with the layer. The first signal is representative of the measured layer.

Abstract: Described are processes for shaping a hardened heat treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys, such as hardened 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys, or articles made from such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the article, which may be in a form of a sheet or a blank, before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the alloy is heated to a specified temperature in the range of 125-425° C. at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-200° C./s, for example, 3-90° C./s or 90-150° C./s. Such a combination of the temperature and the heating rate can result in an advantageous combination of article properties.

Abstract: Described herein are tools and systems for friction stir welding, including cooling and clamping systems. Also disclosed are process parameters for friction stir welding aluminum metals, in some cases thick gauge aluminum metals, to other metals. The tool and process parameters can be used in transportation, electronics, industrial and motor vehicle applications, just to name a few.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the cleanliness of molten metal. Direct current is passed through molten metal advancing through a passage. A voltage signal is analyzed for the presence of solid generally non-metallic inclusions in the metal. A method includes sampling digital data of the voltage signal to generate data samples; updating a delayed running average of the data samples to establish a baseline for identifying sudden changes in amplitude of the data samples; determining a threshold by adding a prescribed value to the baseline; identifying a possible inclusion when a significant number of data samples exceeds the threshold; storing a maximum count as the data samples using peak detection until a prescribed number of the data samples fall below the threshold; and comparing a parameter of the possible inclusion with a lookup table to categorize the possible inclusion as either (i) an actual inclusion or (ii) noise.

Abstract: Processes for improving the strength of heat-treatable, age hardenable aluminum alloys, such as 6xxx, 2xxx and 7xxx aluminum alloys, are provided. The processes for improving the strength of heat-treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys involve a heat treatment step, termed “shock heat treatment,” which involves heat treatment at 200 to 350° C. that is conducted at a fast heating rate (for example 10 to 220° C./seconds) for a relatively short period of time (for example, for 60 seconds or less or for 5 to 30 seconds). In some examples, the shock heat treatment is accomplished by contact heating, such as heating an aluminum alloy article between complementary shaped heated dies of a press. Aluminum alloy articles, such as automotive panels, produced by the disclosed shock heat treatment are also provided.

Abstract: This application discloses a material including an aluminum metal alloy cladding fusion-cast to a metal alloy core. Also disclosed is a material having a metal core with a high content of scrap metal and having two sides, a first aluminum metal cladding fusion cast to the first side of the core layer, and a second aluminum metal cladding fusion cast to the second side of the core layer. The materials can be in a form of a sheet. Sheets are roll bonded together to create permanent metallurgical bonds except at regions where a weld-stop ink is applied. The sheets are used to make corrosion resistant heat exchangers.

Abstract: Described herein are corrugated heat protection tubes and methods of making the same. The heat protection tubes have improved heat resistance, improved abrasion resistance, and minimize or eliminate worker exposure to glass fiber insulating materials. The corrugated heat protection tubes can be used in automotive, transportation, and industrial applications, just to name a few.

Abstract: Systems and methods of threading a metal substrate on a rolling mill include receiving a coil of the metal substrate. The method also includes uncoiling the metal substrate from the coil while the coil and guiding the metal substrate to a work stand of the rolling mill with a threading system.

Abstract: A magnetic pump in a pump well in a molten metal furnace with a long, relatively thin side wall that wraps around a significant fraction of the circumference of the pump, which facilitates creation of an eddy current based flow field in the molten material with better magnetic coupling, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the pump. Breach of the well wall will not result in spillage of metal outside the furnace, and the well can be monitored for any such breach or other change so that the pump can be lifted out of the well to protect it from contact with the molten metal in the event of such a breach, or other appropriate action can be taken.

Abstract: Described are processes for shaping a hardened heat treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys, such as hardened 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys, or articles made from such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the article, which may be in a form of a sheet or a blank, before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the alloy is heated to a specified temperature in the range of 125-425° C. at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-200° C./s, for example, 3-90° C./s or 90-150° C./s. Such a combination of the temperature and the heating rate can result in an advantageous combination of article properties.