Abstract: Described herein are compounds for use in coating compositions and methods of using the same. Also described herein is a method of treating metal products (e.g., aluminum alloy products), including applying the coating composition to at least one surface of the metal product. Further described herein is a joined structure, including the coated aluminum alloy product and another metal or alloy. The coating compositions enhance the bond performance of the joined structures.

Abstract: Improved aluminum can end stock (CES) is disclosed. The CES includes an adhered polymer coating exhibiting low feathering and high performance in various acid tests. The low feathering and resistance to acid tests is accomplished by incorporating a copolymer adhesion promoter film to an aluminum alloy before lamination. In some cases, the metal strip is pretreated with a conversion layer, which can include compounds of trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and phosphates or titanium and zirconium.

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: Provided herein are anodized quality AA5xxx series aluminum alloys and methods for making the aluminum alloys. Also described herein are products prepared from the anodized quality AA5xxx series aluminum alloy sheets. Such products include consumer electronic parts, consumer electronic product parts, architectural sheet products, architectural sheet product parts, and automobile body parts.

Abstract: Systems and methods of non-contact tensioning of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor is spaced apart from the metal strip by a first distance. The systems and methods also include tensioning the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is tensioned in an upstream direction or a downstream direction. In other aspects, rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that a force normal to a surface of the metal strip is applied to the metal strip.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of processing heat treatable aluminum alloys using an accelerated aging step, along with aluminum alloy products prepared according to the methods. The methods of processing the heat treatable alloys described herein provide a more efficient method for producing aluminum alloy products having the desired strength and formability properties. For example, conventional methods of processing alloys can require 24 hours of aging. The methods described herein, however, substantially reduce the aging time, often requiring eight hours or less of aging time.

Abstract: Described herein is a continuous coil pretreatment process used to treat the surface of an aluminum alloy sheet or coil for subsequent deposition of an acidic organophosphorus compound. The process can include applying a cleaner to a surface of an aluminum sheet or a coil; etching the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil with an acidic solution; rinsing the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil with deionized water; applying to the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil a solution of an acidic organophosphorus compound; rinsing the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil with deionized water; and drying the surface of the aluminum sheet or the coil.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for producing thick gauge aluminum alloy articles such as plates, shates, slabs, sheet plates or the like. A method for producing thick gauge aluminum alloy articles can include continuously casting an aluminum alloy article and hot or warm rolling the aluminum alloy article. Also provided herein is a continuous casting system for producing thick gauge aluminum alloy articles. The disclosed thick gauge aluminum alloy articles can be provided in any suitable temper.

Abstract: Provided herein are highly formable aluminum alloys and methods of making the same. The highly formable aluminum alloys described herein can be prepared from recycled materials without significant addition of primary aluminum alloy material. The aluminum alloys are prepared by casting an aluminum alloy that can include such recycled materials and processing the resulting cast aluminum alloy article. Also described herein are methods of using the aluminum alloys and alloy products.

Abstract: Provided herein are highly-formable aluminum alloys and methods of making such alloys. The method of preparing aluminum alloys described herein can include a low final cold reduction step and/or an optional inter-annealing step to produce randomly distributed crystallographic texture components that produce an isotropic aluminum alloy product exhibiting improved formability and deep drawability. The methods described herein result in aluminum alloy microstructures having a balance of alpha fibers and beta fibers that promote improved formability of aluminum alloy sheets. The resulting improvements in quality allow for shaping processes with reduced rates of spoilage.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides aluminum alloy products having a functional gradient across at least one dimension of the aluminum alloy product. The disclosure also provides articles of manufacture made from such products, and methods of making such products, such as through casting and rolling. The disclosure also provides various end uses of such products, such as in automotive, aerospace, marine, defense, transportation, electronics, and industrial applications.

Abstract: A rotating magnet heater for metal products, such as aluminum strip, can include permanent magnet rotors arranged above and below a moving metal strip to induce moving or time varying magnetic fields through the metal strip. The changing magnetic fields can create currents (e.g., eddy currents) within the metal strip, thus heating the metal strip. A magnetic rotor set can include a pair of matched magnetic rotors on opposite sides of a metal strip that rotate at the same speed. Each magnetic rotor of a set can be positioned equidistance from the metal strip to avoid pulling the metal strip away from the passline. A downstream magnetic rotor set can be used in close proximity to an upstream magnetic rotor set to offset tension induced by the upstream magnetic rotor set.

Abstract: Described are methods of making an aluminum alloy product. The method includes heating a rolled aluminum alloy product to a first temperature of from 400° C. to 525° C. The rolled aluminum alloy product may include a 7xxx series aluminum alloy. The method also includes maintaining the rolled aluminum alloy product at the first temperature or within 10° C. of the first temperature for a time duration of from 15 seconds to 30 minutes. The method also includes quenching the rolled aluminum alloy product at a quench rate from 0.5° C./s to 125° C./s thereby generating a heat-treated aluminum alloy product. The heat-treated aluminum alloy product exhibits a strain ratio of from 0.3 to 0.8. The strain ratio is determined according to an ASTM G129 and/or ASTM G139 standard test method.

Abstract: Provided herein are new clad aluminum alloy products and methods of making these alloys. These alloy products possess a combination of strength and other key attributes, such as corrosion resistance, formability, and joining capabilities. The alloy products can be used in a variety of applications, including automotive, transportation, and electronics applications.

Abstract: A monitoring system may monitor a gap between an ingot and a bottom block of a mold. The monitoring system may include a camera and a computer system. The camera may be positioned to capture or detect optical data associated with one or more molds positioned in a casting environment and send the optical data to the computer system. The computer system may compare the optical data with a baseline profile. Based on the comparison between the optical data and the baseline profile, the computer system may determine if the ingot has separated from the bottom block and the height of the separation. The computer system may generate operating instructions based on the separation. The operating instructions may be used to adjust the casting process.

Abstract: A monitoring system may monitor a casting environment, for example, including a mold. The monitoring system may include a camera and a computer system. The camera may be positioned to capture or detect optical data associated with one or more components in a casting environment. The camera may send the optical data to the computer system and the computer system may generate a profile associated with the casting environment. The profile may be compared with a baseline profile to determine whether a particular event has occurred. Based on the event that may have occurred, operating instructions can be generated. The operating instructions may be used to adjust the casting process.

Abstract: A monitoring system may monitor the level of molten metal in a mold. The monitoring system may include a camera and a computer system. The camera may be positioned to capture or detect optical data associated with one or more molds positioned in a casting environment and send the optical data to the computer system. For example, the computer system may determine the level of the molten metal in the mold. The level of the molten metal in the mold may be compared with a baseline level. The computer system may generate operating instructions based on the comparison between the current level and the baseline level. The operating instructions may be used to adjust the casting process.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an event detection system that captures data associated with events while a DC casting system forms an ingot, determines characteristics of the events, and improves the casting system based on the events. Example systems and methods may include initiating a casting operation using one or more pieces of equipment of a casting system including a casting apparatus; capturing sensor data associated with one or more acoustic signals captured relative to the one or more pieces of equipment performing the casting operation; comparing the sensor data with a set of acoustic profiles; determining whether a particular type of event has occurred; causing an adjustment to the casting system or to the casting operation based on whether the particular type of event has occurred; and initiating a second casting operation using the adjusted casting system or casting operation.

Abstract: Provided herein are ultra-high strength aluminum alloys and products prepared therefrom, along with methods of processing the ultra-high strength aluminum alloys. The aluminum alloys described herein are high solute alloys, including significant amounts of zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and other elements in addition to aluminum. The aluminum alloys described herein are amenable to post-aging processing without cracking.

Abstract: A burner for a metal-melting furnace can releasably receive a tapered plug in sealing engagement with an access passage aligned with an air passage. The burner may be configured to extend through a wall of the metal-melting furnace so that the air passage is through a front face within the furnace and so that the access passage is through a rear face outside of the furnace. The access passage may be aligned with the air passage to permit a rigid structure to be passed through the burner from outside the furnace to dislodge build-up of solidified metal from the air passage. The tapered plug may be moveable between a sealing configuration of being received in a seat to seal the access passage during burner operation and a cleaning configuration of being removed from the seat to expose the access passage for insertion of the rigid structure.