Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of processing 7xxx aluminum alloys using a rapid pre-aging step, along with alloys prepared according to the methods. The aluminum alloy products described herein have high strength when subjected to a rapid pre-aging step, as described above, and subsequent thermal treatment, such as paint baking or coating. The alloys prepared and processed according to the methods described herein can be used, for example, in automotive, transportation, electronics, and industrial applications.

Abstract: A method for producing a high strength coated steel sheet having a yield stress YS>800 MPa, a tensile strength TS>1180 MPa, and improved formability and ductility. The steel contains: 15%?C?0.25%, 1.2%?Si?1.8%, 2%?Mn?2.4%, 0.1% 23 Cr?0.25%, Al?0.5%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The sheet is annealed at a temperature higher than Ac3 and lower than 1000° C. for a time of more than 30 s, then quenched by cooling it to a quenching temperature QT between 250° C. and 350° C., to obtain a structure consisting of at least 60% of martensite and a sufficient austenite content such that the final structure contains 3% to 15% of residual austenite and 85% to 97% of martensite and bainite without ferrite, then heated to a partitioning temperature PT between 430° C. and 480° C. and maintained at this temperature for a partitioning time Pt between 10 s and 90 s, then hot dip coated and cooled to the room temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing a high strength steel sheet having a yield strength YS>850 MPa, a tensile strength TS>1180 MPa, a total elongation >13% and a hole expansion ratio HER>30%, by heat treating a steel sheet wherein the chemical composition of the steel contains: 0.13%?C?0.22%, 1.2%?Si?1.8%, 1.8%?Mn?2.2%, 0.10%?Mo?0.20%, Nb?0.05%, Ti<0.05%, Al?0.5%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The sheet is annealed at an annealing temperature TA>865° C. and <1000° C. for a time of more than 30 s, then quenched by cooling it to a quenching temperature QT between 275° C. and 375° C., at a cooling speed >30° C./s in order to have, just after quenching, a structure consisting of austenite and at least 50% of martensite, the austenite content being such that the final structure can contain between 3% and 15% of residual austenite and between 85% and 97% of the sum of martensite and bainite without ferrite, then heated to a partitioning temperature PT between 370° C. and 470° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a high strength coated steel sheet having an improved ductility and an improved formability, the chemical composition of the steel containing: 0.13%?C?0.22%, 1.9%?Si?2.3%, 2.4%?Mn?3%, Al?0.5%, Ti<0.05%, Nb<0.05%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The sheet is annealed at temperature TA higher than Ac3 but less than 1000° C. for a time of more than 30 s, quenched by cooling to a quenching temperature QT between 200° C. and 280° C. in order to obtain a structure consisting of austenite and at least 50% of martensite, the austenite content being such that the final structure can contain between 3% and 15% of residual austenite and between 85% and 97% of the sum of martensite and bainite, without ferrite, heated up to a partitioning temperature PT between 430° C. and 490° C. and maintained at this temperature for a time Pt between 10 s and 100 s, hot dip coated and cooled to the room temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing a high strength coated steel sheet having a yield strength YS of at least 800 MPa, a tensile strength TS of >1180 MPa, a total elongation >14% and a hole expansion ratio HER>30%. The steel contains in weight %: 0.13%?C?0.22%, 1.2%?Si?1.8%, 1.8%?Mn?2.2%, 0.10%?Mo?0.20%, Nb?0.05%, Al?0.5%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The sheet is annealed at a temperature TA higher than Ac3 but less than 1000° C. for more than 30 s, then quenched by cooling temperature QT between 325° C. and 375° C., at a cooling speed sufficient to obtain a structure consisting of austenite and at least 60% of martensite, the austenite content being such that the fmal structure can contain between 3% and 15% of residual austenite and between 85 and 97% of the sum of martensite and bainite, without ferrite, then heated to a partitioning temperature PT between 430° C. and 480° C.

Abstract: A method for producing a high strength steel sheet having a yield strength YS of at least 850 MPa, a tensile strength TS of at least 1180 MPa, a total elongation of at least 14% and a hole expansion ratio HER of at least 30%. The chemical composition of the steel contains: 0.15%?C?0.25%, 1.2%?Si?1.8%, 2%?Mn?2.4%, 0.1%?Cr?0.25%, Nb?0.05%, Ti?0.05%, Al?0.50%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The sheet is annealed at an annealing temperature TA higher than Ac3 but less than 1000° C. for more than 30 s, by cooling it to a quenching temperature QT between 275° C. and 325° C., at a cooling speed sufficient to have, just after quenching, a structure consisting of austenite and at least 50% of martensite, the austenite content en.) being such that the final structure can contain between 3% and 15% of residual austenite and between 85 and 97% of the sum of martensite and bainite, without ferrite, heated to a partitioning temperature PT between 420° C. and 470° C.

Abstract: Described herein are novel 7xxx series aluminum alloys. The alloys exhibit high strength. The alloys can be used in a variety of applications, including automotive, transportation, electronics, aerospace, and industrial applications. Also described herein are methods of making and processing the alloys. Further described herein are methods of producing a metal sheet, which include casting an aluminum alloy as described herein to form an ingot, homogenizing the ingot, hot rolling the ingot to produce a hot band, and cold rolling the hot band to a metal sheet of final gauge.

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.