Abstract: High strength forged aluminum alloys and methods for producing the same are disclosed. The forged aluminum alloy products may have grains having a high aspect ratio in at least two planes, generally the L-ST and the LT-ST planes. The forged aluminum alloy products may also have a high amount of texture. The forged products may realize increased strength relative to conventionally prepared forged products of comparable product form, composition and temper.

Abstract: Disclosed are aluminum alloy hollow materials and processes for producing the same wherein an aluminum alloy hollow material is produced by subjecting an ingot of an aluminum alloy containing 0.3˜1.5 wt % Mn to port hole extrusion or port hole extrusion and drawing-elongation processing and wherein a difference in electric conductivity between individual portions in lengthwise direction of the hollow material is not more than 1.0 IACS %. According to the aluminum alloy hollow materials, preferential corrosion in welding potions in port hole extrusion can be prevented.

Abstract: An aluminum sheet material for automobiles is herein disclosed, having an aluminum alloy composition: (i) comprising 3.5 to 5 wt % of Si, 0.3 to 1.5 wt % of Mg, 0.4 to 1.5 wt % of Zn, 0.4 to 1.5 wt % of Cu, 0.4 to 1.5 wt % of Fe, and 0.6 to 1 wt % of Mn, and one or more members selected from the group of 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Cr, 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Ti, 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Zr, and 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of V, with the balance of aluminum and unavoidable impurities, or (ii) comprising between more than 2.6 wt % and 5 wt % of Si, 0.2 to 1.0 wt % of Mg, 0.2 to 1.5 wt % of Zn, 0.2 to 1.5 wt % of Cu, 0.2 to 1.5 wt % of Fe, and between 0.05 and less than 0.6 wt % of Mn, and one or more members selected from the group of 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Cr, 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Ti, 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of Zr, and 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of V, with the balance of aluminum and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for optimizing heat treatment of precipitation-hardened alloys having at least one precipitate phase by decreasing aging time and/or aging temperature using thermal growth predictions based on a quantitative model. The method includes predicting three values: a volume change in the precipitation-hardened alloy due to transformations in at least one precipitation phase, an equilibrium phase fraction of at least one precipitation phase, and a kinetic growth coefficient of at least one precipitation phase. Based on these three values and a thermal growth model, the method predicts thermal growth in a precipitation-hardened alloy. The thermal growth model is particularly suitable for Al—Si—Cu alloys used in aluminum alloy components. The present invention also discloses a method to predict heat treatment aging time and temperature necessary for dimensional stability without the need for inexact and costly trial and error measurements.

Abstract: A composite aluminium panel comprising two parallel plates and/or sheets secured to the peaks and troughs of a corrugated aluminium stiffener sheet between the parallel plates and/or sheets, wherein the corrugated aluminium stiffener sheet is made from an aluminium alloy rolled sheet of composition (in weight percent): Mg 1.5-6.0, Mn 0.3-1.4, Zn 0.4-5.0, Fe up to 0.5, Si up to 0.5, Zr up to 0.30; optionally one or more of Cr 0.05-0.3, Ti 0.01-0.20, V 0.05-0.25, Ag 0.05-0.40, and Cu up to 0.40; and other elements up to 0.05 each, 0.15 total, with a balance of Al; and having in an H-condition or in an O-condition a ratio of PS/UTS in the range of 0.4 to 0.9 and having good roll formability.

Abstract: An aluminium alloy suitable for diecasting of components with high elongation in the cast state comprises, as well as aluminium and unavoidable impurities, 9.0 to 11.0 w. % silicon, 0.5 to 0.9 w. % manganese, max 0.06 w. % magnesium, 0.15 w. % iron, max 0.03 w. % copper, max 0.10 w. % zinc, max 0.15 w. % titanium, 0.05 to 0.5 w. % molybdenum and 30 to 300 ppm strontium or 5 to 30 ppm sodium and/or 1 to 30 ppm calcium for permanent refinement. Optionally, the alloy also contains 0.05 to 0.3 w. % zirconium and for grain refinement gallium phosphide and/or indium phosphide in a quantity corresponding to 1 to 250 ppm phosphorus and/or titanium and boron added by way of an aluminium master alloy with 1 to 2 w. % Ti and 1 to 2 w. % B.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric contact material useful in the fabrication of a vehicle relay of high durability against inductive load to which the relay incorporated in a magnetic clutch of a vehicle air-conditioner is exposed, and also to a relay having remarkable durability as has never been attained for use in vehicles. The invention provides an electric contact material useful in the fabrication of a relay for use in a vehicle, wherein the material contains an Ag—SnO2—In2O3 alloy which is produced through internal oxidation of an Ag—Sn—In—Ni alloy containing 5.0-10 wt. % (as reduced to metal) Sn and 2.0-5.0 wt. % In, the balance being Ag {or alternatively, an Ag—SnO2—In2O3—NiO alloy which is produced through internal oxidation of an Ag—Sn—In—Ni alloy containing 5.0-10 wt. % (as reduced to metal) Sn, 2.0-5.0 wt. % In, and 0.01-0.50 wt. % Ni, the balance being Ag}, and is used in a shielded space.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy product is provided that includes an ADC12 aluminum alloy, wherein the ADC12 aluminum alloy is cast into the product utilizing a high pressure, slow velocity casting technique.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy with good cuttability, containing 3 to 6 mass % of Cu, 0.2 to 1.2 mass % of Sn, 0.3 to 1.5 mass % of Bi, and 0.5 to 1.0 mass % of Zn, with the balance being aluminum and inevitable impurities. A method for producing a forged article, in which the aluminum alloy is utilized. A forged article obtained by the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a maraging steel excellent in fatigue characteristics and a process for the production thereof. A maraging steel of the first embodiment of the present invention has a chemical composition consisting essentially of, in % by weight: C: 0.01% or less, Ni: 8-19%, Co: 8-20%, Mo: 2-9%, Ti: 0.1-2%, Al: 0.15% or less, N: 0.003% or less, O: 0.0015% or less, and the balance Fe and the Ti component segregation ratio and the Mo component segregation ratio in its structure of 1.3 or less each. A maraging steel of the second embodiment of the present invention has the above composition and contains a nonmetallic inclusion in its structure having a size of 30 &mgr;m or less. The maraging steel of the second embodiment can be obtained easily by appropriate plastic working of a steel ingot with a taper Tp=(D1−D2)×100/H of 5.0-25.0%, a height-diameter ratio Rh=H/D of 1.0-3.0, and a flatness ratio B=W1/W2 of 1.5 or less.

Abstract: A process and device for producing a high-strength steel strip. In the process, liquid steel is cast in at least one continuous-casting machine (1) with one or more strands to form a slab and, utilizing the casting heat, is conveyed through a furnace device (7). The slab undergoes preliminary rolling in a preliminary rolling device (10) and, in a final rolling device (14), is finishing-rolled to form a steel strip with the desired final thickness. In a continuous, endless or semi-endless process, the slab undergoes preliminary rolling in, essentially, the austenitic range in the preliminary rolling device (10) and, in the final rolling device (14), is rolled in the austenitic range or, in at lest one stand of the final rolling device (14), is rolled in the two-phase austenitic-ferritic range, the austenitic or austenitic, ferritic rolled strip. After leaving the final rolling device (14), the strip is cooled rapidly to obtain the desired structure.

Abstract: A non-Cu-based cast Al alloy contains substantially no Cu, and has a tensile strength of 305 MPa or more, a 0.2% yield strength of 220 MPa or more, and an elongation of 10% or more. In the heat treatment of the cast Al alloy, the solution treatment is performed using a fluidized bed 18, and the solution treatment is performed by rapid heating up to the solution treatment temperature in 30 minutes, and maintaining the solution treatment temperature in 3 hours or less. Because this method for heat treatment performs solution treatment at an increased speed of heating-up time, with small deviation of temperature, and at a higher temperature, total time for heat treatment can be shortened drastically in comparison with the conventional method. A non-Cu-based cast Al alloy having well-balanced mechanical properties of tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation can be provided.

Abstract: An aluminum-magnesium alloy for casting operations consisting of, in weight percent, Mg 2.7-6.0, Mn 0.4-1.4, Zn 0.10-1.5, Zr 0.3 max., V 0.3 max., Sc 0.3 max., Ti 0.2 max., Fe 1.0 max., Si 1.4 max., balance aluminum and inevitable impurities. The casting alloy is particularly suitable for application in die-casting operations. Further the invention relates to the method of use of the casting alloy for die-casting automotive components.

Abstract: An improved Al—Si—Mg—Mn casting alloy that consists essentially of: about 6.0-9.0 wt. % silicon, about 0.2-0.8 wt. % magnesium, about 0.1-1.2 wt. % manganese, less than about 0.15 wt. % iron, less than about 0.3 wt. % titanium and less than about 0.04 wt. % strontium, the balance aluminum. Preferrably, this casting alloy is substantially copper-free, chromium-free and beryllium-free.

Abstract: The active brazing solder for brazing ceramic parts of alumina, particularly of high-purity alumina, contains a maximum of 12 wt. % Ti, a maximum of 8 wt. % Be, and less than 16.5 wt. % Fe, the remainder being Zr and any impurities that may be present. The active brazing solder has the following behaviour/features: Brazing temperature: lower than 1,000° C.; the brazed joint is high-vacuum-tight over a long period of time; the coefficient of thermal expansion of the active brazing alloy is substantially identical to that of the alumina ceramic in the entire temperature range covered during the brazing process; the strength of the brazed joint between the two ceramic parts is so high that under tensile loading, fracture will result not at the joint, but in the adjacent ceramic; the pressure resistance of the active brazing solder is greater than 2 GPa; the active brazing solder is very good processable into powders having particle sizes on the order of 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A process for the heat treatment of structure castings made from an aluminum alloy, comprising the steps of: placing the structure casting onto a contour-embracing product receiving device, heating to 490° C. over the course of approximately 30 minutes, holding the temperature of 490° C. for a time of between 90 and 120 minutes, quenching in air from 490° C. to approximately 100° over the course of approximately 4 minutes, if appropriate followed by quenching in water, heating to 250° C. over the course of approximately 15 minutes, holding the temperature of 250° C. for a time of between 30 and 120 minutes, quenching in air to 40° C., if appropriate followed by quenching in water; a light metal alloy for use with this process, having the following composition: Si: 2-11.5%, Fe: 0.15-0.4%, Mg: 0.3-5.5%, Cu & It: 0.02%, Mn: 0.4-0.8%, Ti: 0.1-0.2%, remainder aluminum and trace elements, the alloys with a high silicon content having a low magnesium content and vice versa.

Abstract: A make-and-break contact material which is less worn out and is able to achieve an increased life compared to a conventional material of Ag—CdO-based alloy, in an AC general relay used for a resistive load of about 1 to 20A in a range of AC 100V to 250V. In the present invention, the make-and-break contact material of Ag—Ni-based alloy used for a switching part performing electrical switching through mechanical switching operation is the make-and-break contact material of Ag—Ni-based alloy with Ni metal particles dispersed therein which is obtained through mixing and stirring 3.1 to 20.0 wt % of Ni powder, a certain amount of Li2CO3 powder corresponding to 0.01 to 0.50 wt % of metal Li as an additive, and a balance being Ag powder to make a mixture with the above described powders uniformly dispersed therein, and through compacting and sintering the above described mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy structural plate excelling in strength and corrosion resistance, in particular, resistance to stress corrosion cracking, and a method of manufacturing the aluminum alloy plate. This aluminum alloy structural plate includes 4.8-7% Zn, 1-3% Mg, 1-2.5% Cu, and 0.05-0.25% Zr, with the remaining portion consisting of Al and impurities, wherein the aluminum alloy structural plate has a structure in which grain boundaries with a ratio of misorientations of 3-10° is 25% or more at the plate surface. The aluminum alloy structural plate is manufactured by: homogenizing an ingot of an aluminum alloy having the above composition; hot rolling the ingot; repeatedly rolling the hot-rolled product at 400-150° C. so that the degree of rolling is 70% or more to produce a plate with a specific thickness, or repeatedly rolling the hot-rolled product at a material temperature of 400-150° C. in a state in which rolls for hot rolling are heated at 40° C.

Abstract: A method of fabricating ball protective mask includes (1) aluminum extrusion: the aluminum extruded structure has a suitably shaped outer ring frame and densely packed hollow holes so that the cross section thereof forms a grid-like structure, two sides thereof being provided with lugs; (2) slicing; (3) deburring by punching; (4) punch forming: the slice is punched to form a curved mask to accomplish an inchoate form of the mask; (5) subjecting the mask to heat treatment to obtain a product with satisfactory surface hardness.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy contains at least 0.0001 mass % and not more than 0.03 mass % of copper, at least 0.0005 mass % and not more than 0.2 mass % of silicon, at least 0.5 mass % and not more than 4 mass % of manganese and at least 0.5 mass % and not more than 3 mass % of iron, and the rest contains aluminum and unavoidable impurities. The aluminum alloy further contains at least one of at least 0.01 mass % and not more than 0.5 mass % of chromium, at least 0.01 mass % and not more than 0.5 mass % of titanium and at least 0.01 mass % and not more than 0.5 mass % of zirconium. An aluminum alloy foil is prepared by heating up the aluminum alloy to a temperature of at leas 350° C. and not more than 580° C., holding the same immediately after the heating up or retaining an ingot of the aluminum alloy at a temperature of at least 350° C. and not more than 530° C. for not more than 15 hours, thereafter performing hot rolling at a starting temperature of at least 350° C. and not more than 530° C.