Magnesium Containing Patents (Class 148/439)
  • Patent number: 6063210
    Abstract: A superplastically formable, aluminum alloy product which consists essentially of about 2-10 wt. % magnesium; at least one dispersoid-forming element selected from the group consisting of: up to about 1.6 wt. % manganese, up to about 0.2 wt. % zirconium, and up to about 0.3 w. % chromium; at least one nucleation-enhancing element for recrystallization selected from: up to about 1.0 wt. % silicon, up to about 1.5 wt. % copper, and combinations thereof. Said alloy product has greater than about 300% elongation at a strain rate of at least about 0.0003/sec and a superplastic forming temperature between about 1000-1100.degree. F. due, in part, to the preferred thermomechanical processing steps subsequently applied thereto. A related method of manufacture is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Dhruba J. Chakrabarti, Roger D. Doherty
  • Patent number: 6059902
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy containing Si: 1.5-12% (mass % here and hereinafter), Mg: 0.5-6% and, optionally, at least one of Mn: 0.5-2%, Cu: 0.15-3% and Cr: 0.04-0.35% and, further, containing Ti: 0.01-0.1% and the balance of Al and inevitable impurities, in which the average grain size of crystallized grains of Si system compounds is from 2 to 20 .mu.m and an area ratio thereof is from 2 to 12%. The alloy is melted to obtain a cast ingot having DAS (Dendrite Arm Spacing) of 10 to 50 .mu.m, which is then put to a soaking treatment at 450 to 520.degree. C. and then to extrusion molding. The aluminum alloy has excellent machinability with no addition of low melting metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Shinji Yoshihara, Masakazu Hirano
  • Patent number: 6056836
    Abstract: Sheet for welded constructions having an ultimate tensile strength R.sub.m >275 MPa, elongation A>22% and a product A.times.R.sub.m >7000, having the composition, in % by weight:______________________________________ Mg: 4.2-4.7; Mn: 0.20-0.40; Zn: <0.20; Fe: 0.20-0.45; Si <0.25; Cr <0.15; Cu <0.25; Ti <0.10; Zr <0.10; ______________________________________other elements <0.05 each and <0.20 in total,balance Al.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Hoffman, Guy-Michel Raynaud, Martin-Peter Schmidt, Herve Ribes
  • Patent number: 6053997
    Abstract: In carrying out of a thixocasting process, a material in a semi-molten state is produced by heating an aluminum alloy material which has a thermal characteristic that a first angled endothermic section generated by the melting of a eutectic crystal and a second angled endothermic section generated by the melting of a component having a melting point higher than an eutectic point exist in a differential calorimetric curve. A start point of a primary pressing stage is established at a point when the temperature T of the material is in a range of T.sub.1 <T.ltoreq.T.sub.4 in the relationship between the temperature T.sub.1 of a rise-start point in the first angled endothermic section and the temperature T.sub.4 of a peak of the second angled endothermic section. At the primary pressing stage, the charging of the material into the cavity in a casting mold is completed. A start point of a secondary pressing stage is established at a point when the temperature T of the material is in a range of T.sub.1 <T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Nakamura, Nobuhiro Saito, Kazuo Kikawa, Takeshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 5996471
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy for internal-combustion engine pistons has good high-temperature strength and good abrasion resistance. It comprises from 2 to 5% by weight of copper, from 13 to 16% by weight of silicon, from 0.2 to 1.3% by weight of magnesium, from 1.0 to 2.5% by weight of nickel from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight of vanadium and from 0.004 to 0.02% by weight of phosphorus, with the balance of aluminum. To produce the piston, a melt of the aluminum alloy having the defined composition is cast and then aged under heat at 220 to 260.degree. C. for 3 to 5 hours (T5 treatment) or, after having been cast, heated at 480 to 510.degree. C. for 3 to 10 hours for solution treatment and then aged under heat at 240 to 260.degree. C. for 3 to 5 hours (T6 or T7 treatment).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aikawa, Akinari Ishikawa, Soichi Hara
  • Patent number: 5993576
    Abstract: A wear-resistant wrought Al alloy having a desirable high fatigue strength, toughness and flexure strength when subjected to a quenching and an age hardening heat treatment. The Al alloy contains 8.0 to 13.0% by weight of Si, 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of Fe, 1.5 to 5.0% by weight of Cu, 0.4 to 1.5% by weight of Mg, 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of Cr, 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of Ni, an element selected from the group consisting of 0.005 to 0.05% by weight of Sr and 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Sb, and the remainder being Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein there is no more than 0.04% by weight of Mn as an unavoidable impurity. The Al alloy having Si particles being finely dispersed therein, wherein an average diameter of an equivalent circle of Si particles is not more than 5.00 .mu.m and an average roundness of Si particles is not less than 0.50. The amounts of Fe, Cr and Ni contained in the alloy and the amount of Mn as an impurity are such to prevent Si particles and other intermetallic compounds from enlarging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Ichinose, Akira Hideno, Nobuaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 5989495
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy for use in castings, comprising 0.0005-0.01 weight % of Fe, 0.0005-0.01 weight % of Si, 2.5-6.5 weight % of Cu, 0.10-0.50 weight % of Mg, 0.001-0.40 weight % of Mn, 0.10-0.50 weight % of Ti, 0.20-1.2 weight % of Ag, 0.002-0.01 weight % of B, no more than 0.01 weight % of any other individual component aside from Al, and the balance Al. The aluminum alloy is thereby designed to provide improved toughness without detracting from tensile strength, proof stress, and hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignees: Kyushu Mitsui Aluminum Industries, Inc., Nippon Precision Casting Corp.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Isayama, Osamu Shibata
  • Patent number: 5980657
    Abstract: An integrated circuit alloy is described which reduces the alloy melting temperature for improved coverage of high aspect ratio features with a reduced deposition pressure. The alloy is used to fabricate metal contacts and interconnects in integrated circuits, such as memory devices. The contacts and interconnects can be high aspect ratio features formed using a dual damascene process. An aluminum interconnect alloy is described for use in an integrated circuit which includes Al, Cu, Si. Ge and Mg can also be provided in the alloy. The composition of Si+Ge+Mg provides a melting temperature of the aluminum interconnect alloy which is between 500 and 550.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Farrar, John H. Givens
  • Patent number: 5968292
    Abstract: A billet of an aluminum alloy for thermally transforming from a dendritic microstructure to a globular structure and for forming in a semi-solid condition into a shaped aluminum alloy article; the billet having a dendritic microstructure having a grain size in the range of 20 to 250 .mu.m provided by a solidification rate in the range of 5.degree. to 100.degree. C./sec between liquidus and solidus temperatures when the aluminum alloy is cast into billet; the billet having a dendritic microstructure thermally transformable to the globular structure or non-dendritic structure by heat applied to the billet at a heat-up rate greater than 30.degree. C. per minute to a superheated temperature of 3.degree. to 50.degree. C. above solidus temperature of the aluminum alloy; the billet in the globular structure or non-dendritic structure and in the semi-solid condition having the ability to be formed into the shaped aluminum article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5954897
    Abstract: A die-casting aluminum base alloy consisting of, by weight %,Zn:10.about.25%, Si:6.about.10%,Cu:0.5.about.3.0%, Mn:0.1.about.0.5%,Mg:0.02.about.0.08%, Fe:less than 1.3%,and the rest of Al and unavoidable impurity.This alloy can be heat treated at low temperature from 260.degree. C. to 450.degree. C., at which steel parts inserted in this alloy will not deteriorate.This alloy has excellent mechanical strength, stress corrosion cracking resistance and wear resistance, and can be used for ball joints apparatus such as a stabilizer conrod for automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Nisso Metalochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Ohtake, Yutaka Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5944918
    Abstract: An aluminum-alloy article such as a fastener is prepared by providing an aluminum-alloy article that is not in its final heat-treated state, and is preferably in its annealed state. A curable organic coating material is also provided. The method includes applying the organic coating material to the aluminum-alloy article, and heat-treating the coated aluminum article to its final heat-treated state, thereby simultaneously curing the organic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 5938867
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum product comprising providing stock including an aluminum alloy comprising about 4.0 to 4.4 wt. % copper, about 1.25 to 1.5 wt. % magnesium, about 0.35 to 0.5 wt. % manganese, not more than 0.12 wt. % silicon, not more than 0.08 wt. % iron, not more than 0.06 wt. % titanium, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; hot working the stock; annealing at 725-875.degree. F.; cold rolling; solution heat treating; cooling; holding for at least 12 hours at room temperature; and cold working from about 4% to 7% thereby producing a product having increased strength and toughness properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph C. Dorward, Steven D. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5925313
    Abstract: There is provided an Al base alloy containing boron which is superior in mechanical properties such as strength, ductility or workability and the like and has a neutron absorbing capacity and an ability to recycle. This is an Al base alloy containing boron with Mg: 2 to 8% (massed %, similarly applied hereinafter) and B: 0.5 to 1.5% and satisfying a relation of .sup.10 B/(.sup.10 B+.sup.11 B).gtoreq.95%, and a rate of AlB.sub.2 in all boron compounds is 80% or more by a volumetric rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Katsura Kajihara, Haruo Kakunai, Yuichi Seki, Tadahiko Yamashita, Masahiro Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 5916390
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder liner sealed into a reciprocating piston engine comprising a supereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of mixed-in particles of hard material and which is composed in such a way that fine silicon primary crystals and intermetallic particles automatically form from the melt as hard particles. A blank is allowed to grow from finely sprayed melt droplets by spray compaction, with a fine distribution of hard particles being produced by setting the spray for small melt droplets. The blank can then be formed by cold extrusion to create a shape approximating the cylinder lining. After premachining, the surface is fine machined, honed in at least one stage and then the hard particles lying at the surface are mechanically exposed, is forming plateau areas of hard particles which project above the remaining surface of the base microstructure of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Franz Ruckert, Peter Stocker, Roland Biedermann
  • Patent number: 5913989
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing aluminum can body stock involving the following steps. A molten aluminum alloy is prepared, the alloy containing Mg in the range 1.1 to 1.5% by weight, Mn in the range 0.4 to 0.9% by weight, Cu in the range 0.2 to 0.4% by weight, Fe in the range 0.2 to 0.7% by weight, Si in the range 0.07 to 0.3% by weight, all other elements each less than 0.05% by weight to a maximum of 0.2% for all other elements. The alloy is cast in a continuous strip casting process to produce a slab having a thickness of at least 9 mm. The slab is rolled using at least 83% reduction to produce a re-roll strip. The re-roll strip is coiled to form a coil and the coil to cool is allowed to cool naturally. The re-roll strip is then annealed and cold rolled to a final gauge of between 0.26 and 0.4 mm, using a reduction of between 75 and 85%, with no interanneal. The resulting strip can be used as can body stock having a 45 degree earing of less than 3% and a yield strength after stoving of at least 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Paul Wycliffe, Ed Luce, David J. Lloyd, John Fitzsimon, Gene Burger
  • Patent number: 5906689
    Abstract: An aluminum-based alloy composition having improved corrosion resistance and extrudability consists essentially of, in weight percent, an amount of copper up to about 0.03%, between about 0.1 and 0.5% manganese, between about 0.03 and 0.30% titanium, between about 0.06 and 1.0% zinc, an amount of iron up to about 0.50%, between about 0.05 and 0.12% Si, less than 0.01% manganese, less than 0.01% nickel, up to 0.5% chromium with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. A process of making an aluminum alloy article having high corrosion resistance also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Subhasish Sircar
  • Patent number: 5903055
    Abstract: A conductor line material is provided which has an extremely low electric resistance such as 10 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm or less, and in preferred embodiments, about 5 .mu..OMEGA..multidot.cm, which causes no defect such as hillocks and pinholes even at high temperatures, and which easily forms strong insulation films by anodic oxidation. An Al-based conductor line material comprising an alloy whose composition formula is substantially expressed by Al.sub.x (M.sub.y N.sub.1-y).sub.1-x, where M represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of rare-earth elements, N represents at least one element selected from a group consisting of Nb, Zr and Ta, x is between 98 and 99.5 atomic percent, and y is a number between 0.1 and 0.9, wherein an intermetallic compound of Al with said element represented by M or N is deposited in the matrix by subsequent heat treatment. The same object may be achieved by an alloy of Al to which 0.5-2.0 atomic percent Nb is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Takayama
  • Patent number: 5897720
    Abstract: A product comprising an aluminum base alloy including about 3.8 wt. % copper, about 1.2 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.6 wt. % manganese, not more than about 0.15 wt. % silicon, not more than about 0.12 wt. % iron, not more than about 0.1 wt. % titanium, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having at least 5% improvement over 2024 alloy in fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth rate, corrosion resistance, and formability properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph C. Dorward
  • Patent number: 5891273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder liner, cast into a reciprocating piston engine, of a highly hypereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of hard material particles independent of the melt and has such a composition that fine primary silicon crystals and intermetallic phases automatically form from the melt as hard particles. By spray-compacting, a blank of finely sprayed melt droplets is caused to grow, a fine distribution of the hard particles being produced by controlled introduction of small melt droplets. The blank can be transformed by an extrusion step into a form approximating the cylinder liner. After subsequent premachining with chip removal, the running surface is precision-machined and subsequently honed in at least one stage, after which the hard particles located in the running surface are exposed, plateau faces of the particles being formed, which faces protrude from the remaining surface of the matrix structure of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Franz Ruckert, Peter Stocker, Roland Rieger
  • Patent number: 5888661
    Abstract: A composite structure including a substrate and a heat protection element on the substrate, wherein the heat protection element includes a quasicrystalline aluminum alloy of one or a number of quasicrystalline phases which are either quasicrystalline phases in the strict sense, or approximating phases, wherein the quasicrystalline phases exhibit a thermal diffusivity, measured at ambient temperature, lower than 2.5.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s, and a thermal diffusivity measured in the temperature range 650.degree.-750.degree. C. which does not exceed the thermal diffusivity measured at ambient temperature by more than a factor of 3, and wherein the quasicrystalline aluminum alloy comprises Al.sub.a Pd.sub.b Mn.sub.c X.sub.d Y.sub.e T.sub.f I.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Dubois, Pierre Archambault, Bernard Colleret
  • Patent number: 5888320
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum product having high formability high fracture toughness, high strength and improved corrosion resistance, the method comprising: (a) providing stock including an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of about 0.7 to 1.0 wt. % silicon, not more than about 0.3 wt. % iron, not more than about 0.5 wt. % copper, about 0.8 to 1.1 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.4 wt. % manganese, and about 0.5 to 0.8 wt. % zinc, the remainder substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities; (b) homogenizing the stock at a temperature ranging from about 950.degree. to 1050.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 2 to 20 hours; (c) hot rolling at a temperature ranging from about 750.degree. to 950.degree. F. will increase; (d) solution heat treating at a temperature ranging from about 1000.degree. to 1080.degree. F. for a time period ranging from about 5 minutes to one hour; (e) cooling by quenching at a rate of about 1000.degree. F./second to a temperature of 100.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph C. Dorward
  • Patent number: 5879475
    Abstract: There is claimed a forged structural member suitable for aerospace applications and having improved combinations of strength and toughness. The member is made from a substantially vanadium-free, lithium-free aluminum-based alloy consisting essentially of: about 4.85-5.3 wt. % copper, about 0.5-1.0 wt. % magnesium, about 0.4-0.8 wt. % manganese, about 0.2-0.8 wt. % silver, about 0.05-0.25 wt. % zirconium, up to about 0.1 wt. % silicon, and up to about 0.1 wt. % iron, the balance aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the Cu:Mg ratio of said alloy being between about 5 and 9, and more preferably between about 6.0 and 7.5. The invention exhibits a typical longitudinal tensile yield strength of about 71 ksi or higher at room temperature and can be forged into aircraft wheels or various brake and other product forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Lynette M. Karabin
  • Patent number: 5865911
    Abstract: Rolled plate products up to 6 inches thick or more and other products in an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about 5.2 to 6.8% zinc, 1.7 to 2.4% copper, 1.6 to 2% magnesium, 0.03 to 0.3% zirconium, balance substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities, are useful in making structural members for commercial airplanes especially by machining or shaping such members from the plate. Such members include lower wing skins and wing spars and other members. The plate is made by operations comprising homogenization, hot rolling, solution heat treatment, stretching and artificial aging. Alternatively, the plate is shaped after stretching, which may include machining, and is then artificially aged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Shelly M. Miyasato, Gary H. Bray, John Liu, James T. Staley
  • Patent number: 5865914
    Abstract: There is claimed a lower wing structure for a commercial jet aircraft which includes a substantially unrecrystallized rolled plate member made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about 3.6 to 4.0 wt. % copper, about 1.0 to 1.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.3 to 0.7 wt. % manganese, about 0.05 to 0.25 wt. % zirconium, the balance aluminum and incidental elements and impurities. On a preferred basis, the alloy products of this invention include very low levels of both iron and silicon, typically on the order of less than 0.1 wt. % each, and more preferably about 0.05 wt. % or less iron and about 0.03 wt. % or less silicon. This alloy composition may be rolled to form lower wing skin plates and extruded or rolled to form wing box stringers therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Lynette M. Karabin, John Liu, Allison S. Warren, Gary H. Bray
  • Patent number: 5858134
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of rolled or extruded products of high strength AlSiMgCu aluminium alloy with good intergranular corrosion resistance, comprising the following steps:casting a plate or billet with the following composition (by weight):Si: 0.7-1.3%Mg: 0.6-1.1%Cu: 0.5-1.1%Mn: 0.3-0.8%Zr: <0.20%Fe: <0.30%Zn: <1%Ag: <1%Cr: <0.25%other elements: <0.05% each and <0.15% in total remainder: aluminium; with: Mg/Si<1homogenising in the range 470.degree. C. to 570.degree. C.;hot working, and optionally cold working;solution heat treating in the range 540.degree. C. to 570.degree. C.;quenching;annealing, comprising at least one temperature plateau in the range 150.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., preferably in the range 165.degree. C. to 220.degree. C., the total period measured as the equivalent time at 175.degree. C. being in the range 30 h to 300 h.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Denis Bechet, Timothy Warner
  • Patent number: 5853508
    Abstract: An aluminium alloy in extruded form, consisting of in weight %:______________________________________ Si 11.0-13.5 Mg 0.5-2.0 Fe not more than 1.0 Cu not more than 0.35 Zr not more than 0.1 Ni not more than 0.1 Cr not more than 0.1 Zn ot more thane 0.1 Sr 0.02-0.1 Mn not more than 1.2 Bi not more than 1.0 Pb not more than 1.0 Sn not more than 1.0 ______________________________________balance Al and unavoidable impurities. This alloy has high wear resistance, good corrosion resistance and good machinability. It is particularly suitable for shaped articles used at below 150.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Hoogovens Aluminium NV
    Inventors: Louis Walter Marie Paul Tack, Edouard Willem Suman, Henricus Matheus Van Der Donk
  • Patent number: 5851320
    Abstract: An improved aluminum alloy containing specific additions of silicon and copper to improve wear resistance and improve solutionizing of the alloying constituents, and a process for forming a wear-resistant component from the alloy. The improved aluminum alloy is also characterized by good strength and sufficient ductility so as to permit forging of a wear-resistant component from the alloy. A preferred composition for the alloy, in weight percent, is about 13.0 to about 15.5 percent silicon; about 0.8 to about 2.0 percent copper; about 0.8 to about 1.3 percent magnesium, and the balance being aluminum and impurities. The aluminum alloy is particularly well suited to form pistons of the type used in compressors of automotive air conditioning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro, A. S.
    Inventors: Lars Auran, Gary Hugh Rhinehart, Saumin Shantilal Mehta
  • Patent number: 5846347
    Abstract: A multi-layered bearing having superior load-resistance comprises an aluminium base bearing alloy layer and a backing metal layer. The bearing alloy consists essentially of, by weight, 2-8% zinc, 0.1-8% silicon, 0.1-3% copper, 0.05-3% magnesium and the balance of aluminium. The bearing alloy is subjected to a solution treatment and an artificial aging treatment, and it has a hardness of Hv 70 or greater. The bearing alloy may contain at least one element selected from the following five elements of lead, manganese, vanadium, chromium and nickel, and may further contain strontium and/or titanium and boron. The hardness of the bearing alloy may be Hv 70 or higher by performing solution treatment on a bimetal at a temperature of 400.degree. C. or higher before the plastic working, and further by performing an artificial aging treatment thereon at a temperature of 250.degree. C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Tanaka, Masaaki Sakamoto, Tohru Kato, Yoshiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 5846348
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy cast molding produced by a high-pressure casting method, and having a composition containing Si in an amount of 0.6 to 1.0% by weight (which will be hereinafter simply referred to as %), Cu in an amount of 0.6 to 1.2%, Mg in an amount of 0.8 to 1.2%, Zn in an amount of 0.4 to 1.2%, Ti in an amount of 0.01 to 0.20%, and B in an amount of 0.002 to 0.015%, with the remainder being aluminum and inevitable impurities. The maximum dendrite cell size of the metal structure of the aluminum alloy casting is limited to 60 .mu.m or less. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy casting by high-pressure casting, which manufacturing method includes the steps of charging a mold with a molten aluminum alloy having the above alloy composition, and subsequently solidifying the charged molten metal under pressures as high as 500 Kgf/cm.sup.2 or above so that the maximum dendrite cell size of the metal structure of the aluminum alloy casting is limited to 60 .mu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Sakoda, Akira Hideno, Nobuaki Ohara
  • Patent number: 5792287
    Abstract: A metal sheet with a total thickness>0.5 mm comprising an AlCuMg aluminum alloy consisting essentially of Al and, in percent by weight:3.5<Cu<5.01.0<Mg<2.0Si<0.25Fe<0.25Mn<0.55all other elements: <0.25with0<Mn-2Fe<0.2,optionally plated with another aluminum alloy with the thickness of the plating being no more than 12% of the total thickness of the sheet, the sheet having a recrystallization rate>50% at all points and a deviation in recrystallization rate between surface and mid-thickness<35%, the sheet having in the quenched and stretched state or in the quenched, stretched and annealed state, a deflection after machining to mid-thickness of a bar resting on two distant supports with a length l such that:fe<0.14 1.sup.2,where f is the deflection expressed in micrometers, e being the thickness of the sheet in mm and l is the length of the bar in mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Fabrice Heymes, Philippe Lequeu, Guy-Michel Raynaud
  • Patent number: 5776269
    Abstract: A process for making an essentially lead-free screw machine stock alloy, comprising the steps of providing a cast aluminum ingot having a composition consisting essentially of about 0.55 to 0.70 wt. % silicon, about 0.15 to 0.45 wt. % iron, about 0.30 to 0.40 wt. % copper, about 0.8 to 0.15 wt. % manganese, about 0.80 to 1.10 wt. % magnesium, about 0.08 to 0.14 wt. % chromium, nor more than about 0.25 wt. % zinc, about 0.007 to 0.07 wt. % titanium, about 0.20 to 0.8 wt. % bismuth, about 0.15 to 0.25 wt. % tin, balance aluminum and unavoidable impurities; homogenizing the alloy at a temperature ranging from about 900.degree. to 1060.degree. F. for a time period of at least 1 hour; cooling to room temperature; cutting the ingot into billets; heating and extruding the billets into a desired shape; and thermomechanically treating the extruded alloy shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Farrar, Jr., Norman LeRoy Coats, II
  • Patent number: 5772800
    Abstract: An aluminium alloy plate is provided with a thickness of more than 2 inches, e.g. 6, 7 or 8 inches, and having an average logarithmic fatigue life of more than 100,000 cycles determined in accordance with ASTM test method E 466. The density of micropores with a size larger than 80 .mu.m in all locations in the midplane (T/2) midwidth position at head and tail ends of the finished plate as measured by Optical Microscopy of samples in any plane perpendicular to the midplane is less than 0.025 micropores per cm.sup.2. The plate may be formed by degassing of a melt to give a specified porosity of the cast ingot, and by hot rolling with at least one specified high reduction ratio pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Hoogovens Aluminium Walzprodukte GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred L. Heinz, Werner A. Schelb, Alfred J. P. Haszler, Otmar M. Muller
  • Patent number: 5772799
    Abstract: Can or lid stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is strip cast to form a hot strip cast feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly quenched to prevent substantial precipitation and then cold rolled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tyzh-Chiang Sun, William Betts
  • Patent number: 5769972
    Abstract: Can or lid stock and a method for its manufacture in which a low alloy content aluminum alloy is strip cast to form a hot strip cast feedstock, the hot feedstock is rapidly annealed and quenched rapidly to prevent substantial precipitation of alloying elements and then cold rolled. The can end and tab stock of the invention has strength and formability equal to higher alloy content aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Tyzh-Chiang Sun, William Betts
  • Patent number: 5762728
    Abstract: To provide a wear resistance comparable with that of the conventional A390 series aluminum alloys, a reduced attacking to a sliding counterpart, and an improved machinability, a wear-resistant cast aluminum alloy comprises: a chemical composition consisting, in weight percentage of: 14.0-16.0 Si, 2.0-5.0 Cu, 0.1-1.0 Mg, 0.3-0.8 Mn, 0.1-0.3 Cr, 0.01-0.20 Ti, 0.003-0.02 P, 1. 5 or less Fe, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities in which the Ca content is limited to not more than 0.005; and a microstructure in which a primary Si crystal and Al-Si-Fe-MnCr-based intermetallic compounds are dispersed in the form of a crystallized particle having a diameter of from 5 to 30 gm. A process of producing a wear-resistant cast aluminum alloy includes casting a melt of the alloy composition at a cooling rate of from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C./sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Company Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Kuramasu, Akio Hashimoto, Yoji Namekawa, Sanji Kitaoka, Koji Watanabe, Kenji Tsushima, Mamoru Sayashi
  • Patent number: 5755898
    Abstract: Compressor scrolls are made of an aluminum alloy containing 4.0 to 5.0% by weight of Cu, 9.0 to 12.0% by weight of Si, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Mg, and 0.6 to 1.0% by weight of Fe. The scrolls are manufactured using a high speed die casting method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Shinya Yamamoto, Takamitsu Mukai, Yasushi Watanabe, Nobuhiro Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 5725695
    Abstract: A method of making an aluminum foil product from an aluminum-silicon-iron aluminum alloy comprises casting the alloy into a slab, preferably by twin roll casting, cold rolling the alloy to an intermediate gauge and reroll annealing the intermediate gauge material. The reroll annealed material is then cold rolled to a final foil gauge followed by a final recrystallizing annealing. The aluminum alloy has a controlled amount of silicon and iron such that the silicon is equal to or greater than the iron amount and the reroll anneal temperature is 800.degree. F. (427.degree. C.) or less. The combination of the controlled amounts of silicon and iron and the lower reroll anneal temperature results in an improved foil product in terms of finer grain size and higher elongation which is also less costly to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventors: Bennie R. Ward, Richard E. Hughes, James P. Martin
  • Patent number: 5725694
    Abstract: A free-machining alloy is disclosed containing bismuth, tin and indium. The free-machining constituents act as low melting point compounds for machining and are specially adapted for use in aluminum alloys such as AA6000 series and AA 2000 series alloys. The bismuth, tin and indium are effective replacements for the lead and bismuth addition used previously to improve machinability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Subhasish Sircar
  • Patent number: 5714018
    Abstract: A high-strength and high-toughness aluminum-based alloy having a composition represented by the general formula: Al.sub.a Ni.sub.b X.sub.c M.sub.d Q.sub.e, wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Mm, Ti and Zr; M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Y, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W; Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Si, Cu and Zn; and a, b, c, d and e are, in atomic percentage, 83.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.94,3, 5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.10, 0.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.3, 0.1.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.2, and 0.1.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.2. The aluminum-based alloy has a high strength and an excellent toughness and can maintain the excellent characteristics provided by a quench solidification process even when subjected to thermal influence at the time of working. In addition, it can provide an alloy material having a high specific strength by virtue of minimized amounts of elements having a high specific gravity to be added to the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kita, Hidenobu Nagahama, Takeshi Terabayashi, Makoto Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 5714019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of producing aluminum alloy can body stock and can end stock which are particularly suitable for use in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies and ends for can bodies. The method for can body stock includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 1 to 5 mm and, subsequently, batch annealing the strip, followed by cold rolling, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to desired gauge. The aluminum alloy sheets may then be employed in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies. The process produces aluminum alloy sheet having an improved combination strength and caring properties with acceptable surface characteristics. Unique aluminum alloys usable in the claimed processes are also disclosed. In another embodiment, can ends are made by roll casting, followed by cold rolling preferably without prior thermal treatment, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to the desired gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Robert E. Sanders, Jr., Stephen F. Baumann, W. Bryan Steverson, Scott L. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5681405
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet and a method for producing an aluminum alloy sheet. The aluminum alloy sheet is useful for forming into drawn and ironed container bodies. The sheet preferably has an after-bake yield strength of at least about 37 ksi and an elongation of at least about 2 percent. Preferably the sheet also has earing of less than about 2 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: William Newton, David A. Tomes
  • Patent number: 5676773
    Abstract: Aluminum-based products are disclosed which contain 0.5 to 4.5 wt % lithium and which further contain no more than 1 ppm of each of the alkali metal impurity elements sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. The products are capable of being aged to a peak-aged condition at which they have a grain boundary region substantially free of liquid phase eutectics comprised of sodium and potassium that form embrittlement phases at room temperature, and have a higher fracture toughness than a similar product containing more than 5 ppm in total of the alkali metal impurity elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminium Limited
    Inventor: Donald Webster
  • Patent number: 5650025
    Abstract: A wear-resistant aluminum alloy for automobile parts, particularly for automobile engine and transmission parts requiring high strength, toughness, and wear-resistance, prepared by increasing the amount of silicon, copper, magnesium, and titanium, and decreasing the amount of zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Do-Suck Han
  • Patent number: 5649282
    Abstract: An element for thermally protecting a substrate is deposited on the substrate and comprises a quasicrystalline aluminium alloy having a thermal diffusivity lower than 2.5.times.10.sup.-6 m.sup.2 /s at room temperature and a thermal diffusivity, within the temperature range 650.degree.-750.degree. C., which does not exceed its thermal diffusivity at room temperature by a factor greater than 3. The element may be used to provide heat barriers or bonding layers for substrates. The heat protection element, used in the form of a heat barrier or in the form of a bond coat for heat barriers, exhibits good thermal insulation properties, good mechanical properties, a low specific mass, good resistance to corrosion, and great ease of processing. Further, the invention is useful in limiting heat transfer towards or from parts and components of fittings in many household and industrial devices, for example, heating or cooking devices, smoothing irons, automobile components, and in aeronautic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Dubois, Pierre Archambault, Bernard Colleret
  • Patent number: 5643372
    Abstract: An improvement to a process for treating an aluminum alloy for the series AA 2000 or AA 6000 comprising solution heat treating, quenching and natural or artificial aging, in which conventional heat solution heat treating is defined as solution heat treating the alloy at a temperature which is 5.degree. to 10.degree. C. below a known eutectics melting temperature for the alloy. The improvement comprises solution heat treating at a temperature which is 10.degree. to 100.degree. C. below the conventional solution heat treating temperature in order to desensitize the alloy to intercrystalline corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Pierre Sainfort, Jean Domeyne, Timothy Warner
  • Patent number: 5630889
    Abstract: An extruded structural member suitable for aerospace applications and having improved combinations of strength and toughness. The member is made from a substantially vanadium-free aluminum-based alloy consisting essentially of: about 4.85-5.3 wt. % copper, about 0.5-1.0 wt. % magnesium, about 0.4-0.8 wt. % manganese, about 0.2-0.8 wt. % silver, about 0.05-0.25 wt. % zirconium, up to about 0.1 wt. % silicon, and up to about 0.1 wt. % iron, the balance aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the Cu:Mg ratio of said alloy being between about 5 and 9, and more preferably between about 6.0 and 7.5. The invention exhibits a typical tensile yield strength of about 77 ksi or higher at room temperature and can be forged into aircraft wheels or extruded into various other product forms for use as high speed aircraft wing members, e.g. stringers or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Lynette M. Karabin
  • Patent number: 5616189
    Abstract: An alloy of aluminum containing magnesium, silicon and optionally copper in amounts in percent by weight falling within one of the following ranges:(1) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.0.8, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, 0.3.ltoreq.Cu.ltoreq.3.5;(2) 0.8.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.4, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, Cu.ltoreq.2.5; and(3) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.0, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.1.4, Cu.ltoreq.2.0; said alloyhaving been formed into a sheet having properties suitable for automotive applications. The alloy may also contain at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Fe in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Mn in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Zn in an amount of 0.3 percent by weight or less and a small amount of at least one other element, such as Cr, Ti, Zr and V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, John Fitzsimon, Michael J. Bull, Pierre H. Marois, Alok K. Gupta, David J. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 5616192
    Abstract: There is provided a coil retainer for an engine valve to be mounted therewithin, said retainer prepared by forging of an aluminum-based alloy of the following composition; followed by special combined heat treatments to convert into an alloy material having a dendrite arm spacing value less than 15 micrometer; and the composition being composed ofSilicon: 8 to 17 weight percent;Copper: 2 to 5 weight percent;Magnesium: 0.2 to 10 weight percent;Manganese: 0.1 to 1.5 weight percent;the balance of the composition being aluminum and inevitable amount of impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx Inc.
    Inventor: Seiichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5614036
    Abstract: A high heat resisting and high abrasion resisting aluminum alloy and aluminum alloy powder have superior toughness, abrasion resistance, high temperature strength, and creep resistance and are useful to form engine parts for automobiles, airplanes, etc. The high heat resisting and high abrasion resisting aluminum alloy comprises 2 to 15 wt % of Ni, 0.2 to 15 wt % of Si, 0.6 to 8.0 wt % of Fe, one or two of 0.6 to 5.0 wt % of Cu and 0.5 to 3 wt % of Mg, the total amount of Cu and Mg being equal to or less than 6 wt %, one or two of 0.3 to 3 wt % of Zr and 0.3 to 3 wt % of Mo, the total amount of Zr and Mo being equal to or less than 4 wt %, 0.05 to 10 wt % of B, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, and is produced by powder metallurgy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyo Aluminium Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Imahashi, Hirohisa Miura, Yasuhiro Yamada, Hirofumi Michioka, Jun Kusui, Akiei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5605586
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet suitable for high-speed forming includes subjecting the alloy to a homogenization treatment, hot rolling and cold rolling the homogenization treated alloy, thereby obtaining a cold-rolled sheet, and annealing the cold-rolled sheet. The aluminum alloy contains 4.0 to 10.0 wt. % of Mg, 0.2 wt. % of inevitable impurities of Fe and Si, 0.05 wt. % of other impurity elements, and the balance of Al. Another embodiment includes deep drawing the aluminum alloy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Bekki, Minoru Hayashi, Ryo Syoji