Abstract: Provided is an aluminum alloy sheet excellent in formability, strength, and quality of appearance. The sheet is composed of an aluminum alloy containing 1.00 to 2.20 mass % of Fe and 0.10 to 1.00 mass % of Mn, with a balance of Al and unavoidable impurities. The sheet is fabricated by rolling. In each of the 0° direction, 45° direction, and 90° direction relative to the rolling direction, the sheet has a total elongation of 34% or more, and has a 0.01% proof stress of 60 MPa or more after application of 2% uniaxial strain and a subsequent heat treatment at 170° C. for 20 minutes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy sheet for press forming, having the crystallo-graphic texture in which the orientation density of CR orientation ({001}<520>) is higher than that of any orientation other than the CR orientation. The orientation density of the CR orientation is preferably 10 or more (random ratio). The orientation densities of all orientations other than the CR orientation are preferably less than 10. The aluminum alloy sheet is preferably made of an Al—Mg—Si alloy.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aluminum alloy sheet for press forming, having the crystallo-graphic texture in which the orientation density of CR orientation ({001}<520>) is higher than that of any orientation other than the CR orientation. The orientation density of the CR orientation is preferably 10 or more (random ratio). The orientation densities of all orientations other than the CR orientation are preferably less than 10. The aluminum alloy sheet is preferably made of an Al—Mg—Si alloy.

Abstract: A method of joining heat-treatable aluminum alloy members by friction stir welding, including the steps of: a T4-treatment-performing step of performing a T4 treatment on heat-treatable aluminum alloy members so as to impart T4 temper to the heat-treatable aluminum alloy members; a joining step of joining the heat-treatable aluminum alloy members with T4 temper by friction stir welding to provide a joined product; and a reversion-treatment-performing step of performing a reversion treatment, the reversion-treatment-performing step being carried out prior to or after the joining step.

Abstract: A hydrous oxide film is formed on the surface of a superplastic forming aluminum alloy sheet. The superplastic forming aluminum alloy sheet can be formed without applying a lubricant to a die, exhibits excellent releasability, and prevents scratches due to sliding between the die and the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet of a 6000 type aluminum alloy containing Si and Mg as main alloy components and having an excellent formability sufficient to allow flat hemming, excellent resistance to denting, and good hardenability during baking a coating, which exhibits an anisotropy of Lankford values of more than 0.4 or the strength ratio for cube orientations of the texture thereof of 20 or more, and exhibits a minimum bend radius of 0.5 mm or less at 180° bending, even when the offset yield strength thereof exceeds 140 MPa through natural aging; and a method for producing the sheet of the aluminum alloy, which includes the steps of subjecting an ingot to a homogenization treatment, cooling to a temperature lower than 350° C. at a cooling rate of 100° C./hr or more, optionally to room temperature, heating again to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subjecting it to hot rolling, cold rolling the hot rolled product, and subjecting the cold rolled sheet to a solution treatment at a temperature of 400° C.

Abstract: A sheet of a 6000 type aluminum alloy containing Si and Mg as main alloy components and having an excellent formability sufficient to allow flat hemming, excellent resistance to denting, and good hardenability during baking a coating, which exhibits an anisotropy of Lankford values of more than 0.4 or the strength ratio for cube orientations of the texture thereof of 20 or more, and exhibits a minimum bend radius of 0.5 mm or less at 180° bending, even when the offset yield strength thereof exceeds 140 MPa through natural aging; and a method for producing the sheet of the aluminum alloy, which includes the steps of subjecting an ingot to a homogenization treatment, cooling to a temperature lower than 350° C. at a cooling rate of 100° C./hr or more, optionally to room temperature, heating again to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subjecting it to hot rolling, cold rolling the hot rolled product, and subjecting the cold rolled sheet to a solution treatment at a temperature of 400° C.

Abstract: A sheet of a 6000 type aluminum alloy containing Si and Mg as main alloy components and having an excellent formability sufficient to allow flat hemming, excellent resistance to denting, and good hardenability during baking a coating, which exhibits an anisotropy of Lankford values of more than 0.4 or the strength ratio for cube orientations of the texture thereof of 20 or more, and exhibits a minimum bend radius of 0.5 mm or less at 180° bending, even when the offset yield strength thereof exceeds 140 MPa through natural aging; and a method for producing the sheet of the aluminum alloy, which includes the steps of subjecting an ingot to a homogenization treatment, cooling to a temperature lower than 350° C. at a cooling rate of 100° C./hr or more, optionally to room temperature, heating again to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subjecting it to hot rolling, cold rolling the hot rolled product, and subjecting the cold rolled sheet to a solution treatment at a temperature of 400° C.

Abstract: A method of joining heat-treatable aluminum alloy members by friction stir welding, including the steps of: a T4-treatment-performing step of performing a T4 treatment on heat-treatable aluminum alloy members so as to impart T4 temper to the heat-treatable aluminum alloy members; a joining step of joining the heat-treatable aluminum alloy members with T4 temper by friction stir welding to provide a joined product; and a reversion-treatment-performing step of performing a reversion treatment, the reversion-treatment-performing step being carried out prior to or after the joining step.

Abstract: A hydrous oxide film is formed on the surface of a superplastic forming aluminum alloy sheet. The superplastic forming aluminum alloy sheet can be formed without applying a lubricant to a die, exhibits excellent releasability, and prevents scratches due to sliding between the die and the sheet.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet member 1 having a hem region 25 and comprising an outer component 2 which is made of an aluminum alloy sheet and an inner component 3 which is made of an aluminum alloy sheet and attached to the outer component 2. The aluminum alloy sheet member has a hem end portion 255 at an end of the hem region 25 whose outer bending radius R satisfies R=1.0T-1.2T with respect to a sheet thickness T of the outer component 2. The aluminum alloy sheet member preferably includes an appressed portion at the hem end portion 255 formed by bending the outer component 2 by 180° in a contacting manner.

Abstract: A sheet of a 6000 type aluminum alloy containing Si and Mg as main alloy components and having excellent formability sufficient to allow flat hemming, excellent resistance to denting, and good hardenability during baking a coating, which exhibits an anisotropy of Lankford values of more than 0.4 or the strength ratio for cube orientations of the texture thereof of 20 or more, and exhibits a minimum bend radius of 0.5 mm or less at 180° bending even when the offset yield strength thereof exceeds 140 MPa through natural aging; and a method for producing the sheet of the aluminum alloy, which comprises subjecting an ingot to a homogenization treatment, cooling to a temperature lower than 350° C. at a cooling rate of 100° C./hr or more, optionally to room temperature, heating again to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and subjecting it to hot rolling, cold rolling the hot rolled product, and subjecting the cold rolled sheet to a solution treatment at a temperature of 400° C.

Abstract: A method of producing aluminum alloy sheet product includes casting a slab or ingot, homogenizing the cast slab, and hot rolling the homogenized slab to provide an intermediate gauge product. The temperature and other operating parameters of the hot rolling process are controlled so that the temperature of the ingot at the beginning of hot rolling is maintained at a temperature between 925° F. (496° C.) and 1025° F. (552° C.), and the temperature of the intermediate gauge product exiting the hot rolling step is between about 500° F. (260° C.) and 600° F. (316° C.). The intermediate gauge product is then subjected to a cold reduction of 45% to 70%, annealed, and cold rolled to final gauge.

Abstract: The invention provides an aluminum alloy sheet that has excellent formability, high coat-baking hardenability, excellent corrosion resistance, and is particularly suitable for external automobile body plates. The aluminum alloy sheet comprises: 0.9 to 1.3 wt. % of Si, 0.4 to 0.6 wt. % of Mg, 0.05 to 0.15 wt. % of Mn, 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % of Ti, with the remainder comprising Al and inevitable impurities, while limiting Fe as an impurity to 0.2 wt. % or less and Cu as an impurity to 0.1 wt. % or less. The aluminum homogenizing an aluminum ingot with the above-described composition; cooling the homogenized ingot to a temperature of 450.degree. C. or below to begin hot-rolling; finishing hot-rolling in a temperature range from 250 to 350.degree. C.; applying intermediate annealing to the hot-rolled plate; conducting cold-rolling at a draft of 70% or more; applying a solid solution treatment followed by quenching the alloy sheet and holding it at 530.degree. C. or above for 60 sec.

Abstract: The invention provides an aluminum alloy sheet that has excellent formability, high coat-baking hardenability, and ensures a proof stress of 200 MPa or more after the coat-baking stage, and that gives favorable product surface quality after the forming stage and excellent corrosion resistance, and that is particularly suitable for external automobile body plates. The aluminum alloy sheet comprises: 0.9 to 1.3 wt. % of Si, 0.4 to 0.6 wt. % of Mg, 0.05 to 0.15 wt. % of Mn, 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % of Ti, with the remainder comprising Al and inevitable impurities, while limiting Fe as an impurity to 0.2 wt. % or less and Cu as an impurity to 0.1 wt. % or less; a coating film of a lubricant composition containing a water-dispersible polyurethane resin and a natural wax on the aluminum alloy sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making aluminum alloy sheet product with improved paintbake response during automotive paintbake cycles, resistance to natural aging and better formability includes rapidly heating the aluminum alloy sheet product between a solution heat treating/quenching operation and a sheet coiling operation. Performing the rapid heating at this stage in the sheet manufacture minimizes the adverse effect of early natural aging (dwell time) on the paintbake response of these types of aluminum sheet alloy products. According to the invention, this dwell time is minimized by the application of a rapid heating step immediately following quenching from the solution heat treatment. After the aluminum sheet product has been rapidly heated, it is immediately coiled and cools under ambient conditions in coil form, this ambient cooling providing a pre-aging treatment which contributes to the improved performance of the sheet product in paintbake response, improved formability and natural aging resistance.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material having excellent shape fixability and bake hardenability, the process comprising: conducting semicontinuous casting of an aluminum alloy comprising 0.4 to 1.7% (wt.%) Si and 0.2 to 1.4% Mg, optionally further comprising 0.05% or less Ti and 100 pm or less B and optionally further comprising at least one member selected from the group of 1.00% or less Cu, 0.50% or less Mn, 0.20% or less Cr and 0.20% or less V, with the balance consisting of Al and unavoidable impurities, subjecting the cast alloy to conventional hot rolling; conducting solution heat treatment by holding the hot-rolled alloy at a temperature of from 450 to 580.degree. C. for 10 minutes or less; conducting first-stage cooling of the alloy at a cooling rate of 200.degree. C./min or more to a quenched temperature in the range of from 60 to 250.degree. C.; and subjecting the alloy to second-stage cooling at a cooling rate selected within the zone ABCD shown in the attached FIG. 2.