Abstract: The invention relates to a hot reversing mill equipped with one or more cooling systems consisting of bars of nozzles spraying an aluminum blank. It also relates to the hot rolling process associated with this hot reversing mill wherein the cooling system serves at least once making it possible to produce aluminum sheets advantageously. It also relates to the process for rolling an AA6xxx series aluminum alloy wherein a blank is cooled during the hot rolling and a sheet obtained with this process. The invention makes it possible to enhance the productivity of reversing mills by enhancing the metallurgical quality and/or the productivity of the other fabrication steps. The invention is particularly useful for providing superior quality 6xxx alloy sheets intended for the automotive industry.

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 is directed to a method for producing a 6xxx series aluminium sheet comprising the steps of homogenizing an ingot made from a 6XXX series aluminium alloy comprising in wt. % Si: 0.4-0.7, Mg: 0.2-0.4, Mn: 0.05-0.30, Fe: 0.03 to 0.4, Cu up to 0.3, Cr up to 0.05, Zn up to 0.15, Ti up to 0.1 wt %, rest aluminium and unavoidable impurities up to 0.05 each and 0.15 total, rough hot rolling on a reversible mill to a rough hot rolling exit thickness with a rough hot rolling exit temperature less than 420° C., finish hot rolling the ingot to a hot rolling final thickness with a tandem mill and coiling at the hot rolling final thickness with a hot rolling exit temperature less than 300° C., cold rolling to obtain a cold rolled sheet. The products obtained according to the method of the invention are particularly useful for automobile hood inners as they have the requested mechanical properties for pedestrian safety and surface quality.

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 aluminium 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 90% recrystallization is obtained while controlling the temperatures of hot rolling, in particular the relationship between the hot rolling starting temperature and the hot rolling exit temperature and/or controlling the grain size after coiling,; 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.

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 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: 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: The subject of the invention is a composite sheet material made of aluminium alloy for motor vehicle body components, in which a cladding sheet is applied to at least one side of a core, the compositions of the core and of the cladding sheet, in weight percentages, being such as below (See table): other elements <0.05 each and 0.15 in total, remainder aluminium. Another subject of the invention is the process for manufacturing said composite sheet material by co-rolling.

Abstract: Auto body roof comprising at least one steel part and a skin part made of aluminum alloy that is attached to the steel part before painting. The aluminum part comprises a sheet of the following composition: Si: 0.7-1.3, Fe<0.5, Cu: 0.5-1.1, Mn: 0.4-1.0, Mg: 0.6-1.2, Zn<0.7, Cr 0.25, Zr+Ti 0.20, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, and the remainder aluminum. The aluminum part, after solution treatment, quenching and age-hardening for three weeks at room temperature, possesses a yield strength R0.2 of less than 170 MPa, and preferably 160 MPa.

Abstract: Auto body roof comprising at least one steel part and a skin part made of an aluminum alloy that is attached to the steel part before painting. The aluminum part comprises a sheet of the following composition: Si: 0.7-1.3, Fe<0.5, Cu: 0.5-1.1, Mn: 0.4-1.0, Mg: 0.6-1.2, Zn<0.7, Cr<0.25, Zr+Ti<0.20, other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total, and the remainder aluminium. The aluminum part, after solution treatment, quenching and age-hardening for three weeks at room temperature, possesses a yield strength R0.2 of less than 170 MPa, and preferably 160 MPa.