Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy can body stock including a continuous, in-line sequence of hot rolling, annealing and solution heat treating without intermediate cooling and rapid quenching.

Abstract: A method manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet comprising preparing an aluminum alloy ingot essentially consisting of 1.5 to 3.5% by weight of Mg, 0.3 to 1.0% by weight of Cu, 0.05 to 0.6% by weight of Si, and a balance of Al, in which the ratio of Mg/Cu is in the range of 2 to 7, homogenizing the ingot in one step or in multiple steps, performed at a temperature within a range of 400 to 580.degree. C., preparing an alloy sheet having a desired sheet thickness by subjecting the ingot to a hot rolling and a cold rolling, subjecting the alloy sheet to heat treatment including heating the sheet up to a range of 500.degree. to 580.degree. C. at a heating rate of 3.degree. C./sec. or more, keeping it for 0 to 60 seconds at the temperature reached, and cooling it to 100.degree. C. or less at a looking rate of 2.degree. C./sec. or more, and keeping the alloy sheet at a temperature within a range of 180.degree. to 300.degree. C. for 3 to 60 seconds. Thus, a natural aging-retardated aluminum alloy sheet is obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet comprising preparing an aluminum alloy ingot essentially consisting of 1.5 to 3.5% by weight of Mg, 0.3% to 1.0% by weight of Cu, 0.05 to 0.35% by weight of Si, 0.03 to 0.5% by weight of Fe, 0.005 to 0.15% by weight of Ti, 0.0002 to 0.05% by weight of B and a balance of Al, in which the ratio of Mg/Cu is in the range of 2 to 7, homogenizing the ingot in one step or in multiple steps, performed at a temperature within the range of 400.degree. to 580.degree. C., preparing an alloy sheet having a desired sheet thickness by subjecting the ingot to a hot rolling and a cold rolling, subjecting the alloy sheet to a heat treatment including heating the sheet up to a range of 500.degree. to 580.degree. C. at a heating rate of 3.degree. C./second or more, keeping it at the temperature reached for 0 to 60 seconds, and cooling at a cooling rate of 2.degree. C.

Abstract: Strength anisotropy of aluminum-lithium alloy wrought products is reduced by subjecting these types of alloys to improved T8 temper practice. The wrought product, after solution heat treating and quenching, is subjected to a combination of cold rolling and stretching steps prior to aging. The cold rolling can range between 1 and 20% reduction with the stretching step ranging between 0.5-10%. The cold rolling step may be performed in one or a multiple of passes. When multiple passes are used, the cold rolling may be done in different directions to further enhance reductions in strength anisotropy for these types of alloys. An aluminum-lithium alloy wrought product subjected to the improved T8 temper practice has an increased minimum tensile yield stress throughout its thickness and in various directions to facilitate commercial application of the product in high strength applications.

Abstract: An aluminum-based alloy useful in aircraft and aerospace structures which has low density, high strength and high fracture toughness consists essentially of the following formula:Cu.sub.a Li.sub.b Mg.sub.c Ag.sub.d Zr.sub.e Al.sub.balwherein a, b, c, d, e and bal indicate the amount in wt. % of alloying components, and wherein 2.8<a<3.8, 0.80<b<1.3, 0.20<c<1.00, 0.20<d<1.00 and 0.08<e<0.40. Preferably, the copper and lithium components are controlled such that the combined copper and lithium content are kept below the solubility limit to avoid loss of fracture toughness during elevated temperature exposure. The relationship between the copper and lithium contents also should meet the following relationship:Cu (wt. %)+1.5 Li (wt. %)<5.4.

Abstract: This invention relates to aluminium alloys containing lithium which are particularly suitable for aerospace construction in that they possess improved cold rolling characteristics optionally with improved damage tolerance. A method of producing sheet or strip material is described which comprises the steps of: (a) providing, in a condition suitable for hot rolling, a billet of an alloy of the composition in weight percent: lithium 1.9 to 2.6; magnesium 0.4 to 1.4; copper 1.0 to 2,2; manganese 9 to 0.09; zirconium 0 to 0.25; at least one other grain-controlling element 0 to 0.5; nickel 0 to 0.5; zinc 0 to 0.

Abstract: A method of producing aluminum can sheet having low earing characteristics. An aluminum alloy ingot is provided and is heated to a temperature between about 527.degree. to 571.degree. C. (980.degree. to 1060.degree. F.). After this, the ingot is hot rolled in a single-stand reversible hot mill to produce an intermediate gauge sheet. The intermediate gauge sheet is then cold rolled to produce a final gauge aluminum can sheet having low eating characteristics.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing aluminum alloy can body stock including two sequences of continuous, in-line operations. The first sequence includes the continuous, in-line steps of hot rolling, coiling, coil self-annealing and the second sequence includes the continuous, in-line steps of uncoiling, quenching without intermediate cooling, cold rolling, and coiling.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy containing about 0.5 to 1.3% magnesium, about 0.4 to 1.2% silicon, about 0.6 to 1.2% copper, about 0.1 to 1% manganese, the balance substantially being aluminum along with impurities and incidental elements, is made into wrought wire, rod, bar or tube products by extrusion and cold working, preferably drawing, operations. The method includes extrusion within about 300.degree. or 400.degree. up to about 650.degree. or 700.degree. F. and even possibly up to 750.degree. or 800.degree. F. on a less preferred basis. Following extrusion, the product may be cold drawn either before or after, or both before and after, solution heat treatment and quenching. Rapid quenching is preferred. The product can then be artificially aged, for instance by heating to 375.degree. F. The resulting product has a fine grain size and consistent and good properties so as to be useful in a number of applications.

Abstract: In order to achieve damage-tolerant properties and sufficient isotropy of aluminum alloys, particularly of type AlLi 8090, subsequent especially to hot-forming of a bar of said aluminum alloy there is interposed a solution heat treatment and quenching, followed by working and subsequent intermediate annealing within a temperature range of from 250.degree. to 475.degree. C. for a period of from 1 to 85 hours. The intermediate annealing is followed by cold forming and subsequent solution heat treatment with the additional purpose of recrystallization, whereupon the recrystallized material is especially cold-formed to a degree of deformation of only up to 8%. Thereafter the sheets having a sheet thickness of from 0.5 to 10 mm are subjected to artificial aging.

Abstract: A rapidly solidified, low density aluminum base alloy consists essentially of the formula Al.sub.bal Li.sub.a Cu.sub.b Mg.sub.c Zr.sub.d wherein "a" ranges from about 2.2 to 2.5 wt %, "b" ranges from about 0.8 to 1.2 wt %, "c" ranges from about 0.4 to 0.6 wt % and "d" ranges from about 0.4 to 0.8 wt %, the balance being aluminum plus incidental impurities. The alloy is especially suited to be consolidated to produce a strong, tough, low density aircraft landing wheel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a hardened aluminum alloy sheet having superior thermal stability, the method comprising the steps of: homogenizing an ingot of an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of, in weight percentage, 3.0 to 6.0% Mg and 0.4 to 0.8% Mn, with the balance being Al and incidental impurities; hot rolling the homogenized ingot to a sheet; cold rolling the hot-rolled sheet at a rolling reduction of at least 20%; intermediate heat treating the cold-rolled sheet at 200.degree. to 250.degree. C. for one hour or more; and final cold rolling the intermediate heat-treated sheet at a reduction of at least 50%. In this process, the aluminum ingot may further contain from 0.05 to 0.4% Cu with or without 0.05 to 0.5% Si, 0.1 to 0.5% Fe, 0.01 to 0.05% Ti and 0.0001 to 0.0010% B. Further, the above homogenizing and hot rolling steps may be replaced by the steps of homogenizing, hot rolling to a sheet thickness of 2 to 6 mm, cold rolling and annealing for recrystallization.

Abstract: A method of producing a sheet product and improved products having improved levels of toughness and fatigue crack growth resistance at good strength levels. The method comprises providing an aluminum base alloy containing 4 to 4.5% Cu, 1.2 to 1.5% Mg, 0.4 to 0.6% Mn, 0.12% max. Fe, 0.1% max. Si, the remainder aluminum, incidental elements and impurities and hot rolling the alloy, heating the alloy to above 910.degree. F. and additionally hot rolling it in a range of about 600.degree. to 900.degree. F., solution heat treating, preferably for a time of less than about 15 minutes at a solution heat treating temperature, and rapidly cooling and naturally aging. The invention products have very good combinations of strength together with high fracture toughness or low fatigue crack growth rate, or both, making them well suited for aerospace applications such as fuselage skin. The products preferably include a corrosion protecting cladding of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

Abstract: An aluminum based alloy useful in aircraft and aerospace structures which has low density, high strength and high fracture toughness consists essentially of the following formula:Cu.sub.a Li.sub.b Mg.sub.c Ag.sub.d Zr.sub.e Al.sub.balwherein a, b, c, d, e and bal indicate the amount in wt. % of alloying components, and wherein 2.4<a<3.5, 1.35<b<1.8, 0.25<c<0.65, 0.25<d<0.65 and 0.08<e<0.25, and the alloy has a density of 0.0945 to 0.0960 lbs/in.sup.3. Preferably, the relationship between the copper and lithium components also meets the following tests:more preferably the relationship meets the following tests:6.5<a+2.5b<7.5, 2b-0.8<a<3.75b-1.9.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making an aluminum alloy sheet having controlled levels of strength properties for forming into a container panel. A body of an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 0.45 to 0.60 wt. % Cu, 1.1 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0.3 to 0.6 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 0.55 wt. % Fe, 0.5 to 1.2 wt. % Mn, the remainder aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, is hot rolled to a gauge in the range of 0.12 to 0.16 inch to provide a hot rolled product. The hot rolled product is cold rolled to provide a reduction of 50 to 80% in thickness, then solution heat treated in a range of 850.degree. to 110.degree. F. and rapidly cooled before cold rollign to a final sheet gauge by providing a reduction of 30 to 90% in thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aluminum base alloy suitable for forming into a wrought product having improved combinations of strength, corrosion resistance and fracture toughness. The alloy is comprised of 0.2 to 5.0 wt. % Li, 0.05 to 6.0 wt. % Mg, at least 2.45 wt. % Cu, 0.01 to 0.16 wt. % Zr, 0.05 to 12 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, the balance aluminum and incidental impurities.

Abstract: An aluminum based alloy useful in aircraft and airframe structures which has low density and consists essentially of the following formula:Mg.sub.a Li.sub.b Zn.sub.c Ag.sub.d Al.sub.balwherein a ranges from 0.5 to 10%, b ranges from 0.5 to 3.0%, c ranges from 0.1 to 5.0%, d ranges from 0.1 to 2.0%, and bal indicates the balance of the alloy is aluminum, with the proviso that the total amount of alloying elements cannot exceed 12.0%, with the further proviso that when a ranges from 7.0 to 10.0%, b cannot exceed 2.5% and c cannot exceed 2.0%.

Abstract: A worked rod extrusion product for fabricating into products having high wear resistance surfaces, the product comprised of 11 to 13.5 wt. % Si, 0.5 to 1.45 wt % Cu, 0.8 to 3 wt. % Mg, 0.5 to 2.95 wt. % Ni, max 1 wt. % Fe, max 0.1 wt. % Cr, max 0.25 wt. % Zn, the balance aluminum, incidental elements and impurities.