Silicon Containing Patents (Class 420/534)
  • Publication number: 20030005984
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy sheet material, containing 2.6% by mass or more and less than 3.5% by mass (% by mass is simply denoted by % hereinafter) of Si, 0.05 to 0.5% of Mg, 0.5% or more and less than 1.2% of Cu, 0.6 to 1.5% of Mn, 0.5 to 1.6% of Zn, and 0.3 to 2.0% of Fe, and containing, if necessary, at least one of 0.01 to 0.2% of Cr, 0.01 to 0.2% of Zr, 0.01 to 0.2% of V, and 0.01 to 0.2% of Ti, with the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities. A method of producing the aluminum alloy sheet material, which method contains carrying out specific workings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Koji Oyama, Yoichiro Bekki, Noboru Hayashi, Morio Kuroki
  • Publication number: 20030005983
    Abstract: A forged scroll part is made from an aluminum alloy material, in which harmful primary Si crystals are not formed and variation in wrap height between scrolls is low. The alloy material includes 8.0-12.5 mass % of) Si, 1.0-5.0 mass % of Cu and 0.2-1.3 mass % of Mg, and if necessary, 2.0 mass % or less of Ni and/or 0.5 masse or less of one or more species selected from among Sr, Ca, Na and Sb. A process for producing the forged scroll pa includes casing the aluminum alloy material through continuous casting into a round bar material having a diameter of 130 mm or less and subsequently subjecting the material to upsetting and hot forging with back pressure to produce a forged scroll part containing Si particles having a size of less than 15 &mgr;m and a mean size of 3 &mgr;m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Fumihiko Ohmi, Yuichi Ogura
  • Patent number: 6464805
    Abstract: An Al—Mg—Si—Cu aluminum alloy plate excelling in strength and formability and exhibiting improved filiform corrosion resistance which is suitably used for automotive body panels. The aluminum alloy plate contains 0.25-0.6% of Mg (mass %, hereinafter the same), 0.9-1.1% of Si, 0.6-1.0% of Cu, and at least one of 0.20% or less of Mn and 0.10% or less of Cr, with the balance consisting of Al and impurities, wherein the number of Q phases (Cu—Mg—Si—Al phases) with a size of 2 &mgr;m or more in diameter present in a matrix is 150 per mm2 or more. The aluminum alloy plate is fabricated by homogenizing an ingot of an aluminum alloy having the above composition at 530° C. or more, cooling the ingot to 450° C. or less at a cooling rate of 30° C./hour or less, hot-rolling the ingot, cold-rolling the hot-rolled product, and providing the cold-rolled product with a solution heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Matsuda, Tsutomu Hattori, Masahito Katsukura, Tadashi Minoda, Hideo Yoshida, Shinichi Matsuda, Mineo Asano, Tsutomu Furuyama
  • Patent number: 6465113
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy brazing sheet having a four-layered structure, of sheet thickness 0.2 mm or less, and having a core alloy, a filler alloy of an Al—Si alloy on one surface of the core alloy, a sacrificial anode material of an Al—Zn alloy on the other surface of the core alloy, and an intermediate layer between the core alloy and sacrificial anode material, wherein the core alloy is composed of an Al alloy containing given amounts of Si, Fe, Mn, and Cu, with the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities, and wherein the intermediate layer is composed of an Al alloy containing given amounts of Si, Fe, Mn, and Cu, with the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Company, Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yamada, Takeyoshi Doko, Yoshiaki Ogiwara, Satoshi Tanaka, Sunao Fukuda, Yoshihiko Kamiya, Masaki Shimizu, Kenji Negura
  • Patent number: 6461454
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy plate for an automobile has a chemical composition containing 0.8 to 1.5% by mass of Si, 0.4 to 0.7% by mass of Mg and 0.5 to 0.8% by mass of Cu. The crystal grain size is 10 to 40 &mgr;m. Cu content obtained by analyzing the outermost surface of the aluminum alloy with an oxide film according to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is {fraction (1/10)} to ½ of the Cu content of the bulk of the aluminum alloy plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tawara, Osamu Takezoe, Mariko Sakata, Shinji Matsuda, Masahito Katsukura, Tsutomu Hattori
  • Patent number: 6451453
    Abstract: Strip or drawn tube for the manufacture of a brazed heat exchanger, formed from an aluminum alloy containing Si, Cu and Mn, with optional amounts of Mg, Fe, Zn and Ti, where Fe≦Si, and Cu+Mg>0.4. In the form of a strip, the alloy may be coated on one or both surfaces with an aluminum brazing alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Kucza, Ravi Shahani, Bruce Morere, Jean-Luc Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6440583
    Abstract: Disclosed is an Al alloy for a welded construction having excellent welding characteristics, which Al alloy comprises 1.5 to 5 wt % of Si (hereinafter, wt % is referred to as %), 0.2 to 1.5% of Mg, 0.2 to 1.5% of Zn, 0.2 to 2% of Cu, 0.1 to 1.5% of Fe, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.01 to 0.2% of Cr, 0.01 to 0.2% of Ti, 0.01 to 0.2% of Zr, and 0.01 to 0.2% of V, with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities. Also disclosed is a welded joint having this Al alloy base metal welded with an Al—Mg- or Al—Si-series filler metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seizo Ueno, Yoichiro Bekki, Noboru Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20020106300
    Abstract: An aluminum-beryllium-silicon based alloy is disclosed, which comprises 5.0 to 30.0 mass % of Be. 0.1 to 15.0 mass % of Si and 0.1 to 3.0 mass %, the balance being Al and inevitable impurities. The alloy is useful for producing automobile engine parts, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Ochiai, Hiroshi Yamada, Masami Hoshi
  • Patent number: 6416710
    Abstract: A high-strength aluminum alloy for pressure casting exhibiting a tensile strength of not less than 35 kgf/mm2 and an elongation of not less than 5.0% is provided. The aluminum alloy comprises 3.5 to 5.0% of Cu, 6.5 to 7.5% of Si, not more than 0.36% of Mg, not more than 0.35% of Fe, and the balance comprising Al and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: G.D. Searle & Co.
    Inventors: Naoto Oshiro, Takao Suzuki, Hiroyuki Omura, Izumi Murashima
  • Patent number: 6403232
    Abstract: A core material of an aluminum brazing sheet restricts Mg to less than 0.3 wt % and Fe to not more than 0.2 wt %, and contains more than 0.2 wt % and not more than 1.0 wt % of Cu, 0.3 to 1.3 wt % of Si, 0.3 to 1.5 wt % of Mn and the balance of Al and inevitable impurities. A brazing filler material is formed on one surface of the core material by Al—Si based aluminum alloy. Also, a cladding material is formed on the other surface of the core material, and contains less than 0.2 wt % of Si, 2.0 to 3.5 wt % of Mg, not less than 0.5 wt % and less than 2.0 wt % of Zn and the balance of Al and inevitable impurities. Further, the value (cladding material hardness)/(the core material hardness) that is a ratio of the hardness of the cladding material to the hardness of the core material is not more than 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignees: Kobe Alcoa Transportation Products Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Okamoto, Osamu Takezoe, Takahiko Nagaya, Yasuaki Isobe, Taketoshi Toyama, Sunao Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20020014287
    Abstract: An Al—Mg—Si based aluminum alloy extrusion having large strength, absorbable impact energy and resistance against compressing cracking, wherein the average size of Mg2Si precipitation in the [1 0 0] and [0 1 0] directions of the (1 0 0) plane inside grains is 20 nm or more, the distribution density of the Mg2Si precipitation in the [0 0 1] direction of the (1 0 0) plane is 100 or more per &mgr;m2, and the size of precipitations on grain boundaries is 1000 nm or less. Alternatively, in the Al—Mg—Si based aluminum alloy extrusion, a tensile strength obtained from a tensile test performed at a strain rate of 1000 per second is from 150 to 400 N/mm2 (both inclusive).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: SHINJI YOSHIHARA, HITOSHI KAWAI, MASAKAZU HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20020003012
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum-alloy-made forged scroll part in which harmful primary Si crystals are not formed and variation in wrap height between the scrolls is low. The present invention also provides a process for producing the forged scroll part. An alloy material including Si: 8.0-12.5%; Cu: 1.0-5.0%; Mg: 0.2-1.3%; and if necessary, Ni: 2.0% or less and/or one or more species selected from among Sr, Ca, Na, and Sb: total 0.5% or less, is cast through continuous casting into a round bar material having a diameter of 130 mm&phgr; or less, and subsequently, the material is subjected to upsetting and hot forging with back pressure to produce a forged scroll part containing substantially no Si particles having a size of 15 &mgr;m or more, the mean size of Si particles in the forged part being 3 &mgr;m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: Masahiro Sato, Fumihiko Ohmi
  • Patent number: 6337136
    Abstract: The present invention provides a support for a lithographic printing plate prepared by cold rolling a sheet while intermediate annealing is omitted to save energy and the number of the cold rolling steps are decreased to simplify the sheet production steps and to give a desired strength of the sheet, and by inhibiting precipitation of Si particles in the substrate to give extremely excellent resistance to ink staining in the nonimage areas during printing, and a process for producing a substrate therefore. The production process comprises homogenization heat-treating an aluminum alloy slab comprising 0.10 to 0.40 wt % of Fe, 0.03 to 0.15 wt % of Si, 0.004 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignees: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd., Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Suzuki, Ichiro Okamoto, Kazumitsu Mizushima, Tadashi Asahi, Hirokazu Sawada, Hirokazu Sakaki
  • Patent number: 6309480
    Abstract: A cylinder liner cast into a reciprocating piston engine made of 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 fine-grained, hard particles formed from the melt and also the mechanical exposure of the hard particles on the surface of the cylinder results not only in high wear resistance and high contact area of the surface, but also in gentle treatment of the piston and its rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Franz Rückert, Peter Stocker, Roland Biedermann, Roland Rieger
  • Patent number: 6290785
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for continuously casting aluminum alloys and improved aluminum alloy compositions. The process includes the steps of continuously annealing the cold rolled strip in an intermediate anneal using an induction heater and/or continuously annealing the hot rolled strip in an induction heater. The alloy composition has mechanical properties that can be varied selectively by varying the time and temperature of a stabilizing anneal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Selepack, Theodore E. Blakely
  • Patent number: 6267922
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy containing the following elements in the stated amounts: 0.6≦Mg≦0.9; 0.25≦Si≦0.6; 0.25≦Cu≦0.9; Fe<0.4; Mn<0.4; the total of the amounts of Cu, Si and Mg being, in atomic weight percent, more than 1.2% and less than 1.8%. These alloys may be subjected to homogenization at about 470 to 560° C. for more than four hours, hot rolling at a temperature in the range of 400 to 580° C., cold rolling, solutionizing at a temperature in the range of 470 to 580° C., and natural aging at ambient temperature. The alloys may then be used as structural components for all aluminum vehicles and may be recycled with other aluminum alloys used in such vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Michael Jackson Bull, Alok Kumar Gupta, Michael John Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6248189
    Abstract: An aluminum-based alloy useful for driveshaft assemblies and method of manufacturing an extruded tube of such alloy. The alloy includes, in weight %, 0.50 to 0.70% Si, up to 0.30% Fe, 0.20 to 0.40% Cu, up to 0.03% Mn, 0.80 to 1.10% Mg, up to 0.03% Cr, balance Al and impurities. In producing extruded tubing, the alloy is extruded, the extruded billet is water quenched, the quenched tube is drawn in a two-stage drawing operation and the drawn tube is given a precipitation hardening treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Shaffer, Joseph E. Diggs
  • Patent number: 6200396
    Abstract: This invention relates to a eutectic or hypereutectic aluminium-silicon alloy product suitable for thixoforming, comprising (by weight) 10 to 30% silicon and, if applicable, copper (<10%), magnesium (<3%), manganese (<2%), iron (<2%), nickel (<4%), cobalt (<3%) and other elements (<0.5% each and 1% in total), the microstructure of which is composed of primary silicon crystals, equiaxed type aluminium dendrites less than 4 mm in size and a eutectic composed of eutectic silicon grains and eutectic aluminium grains less than 4 mm in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Aluminium Pechinay
    Inventors: Gerard Laslaz, Francois Cossé, Michel Garat
  • Patent number: 6126898
    Abstract: An aluminum-copper alloy comprising substantially insoluble particles which occupy the interdendritic regions of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Aeromet International PLC
    Inventor: Simon Andrew Butler
  • Patent number: 6120621
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy strip useful for can stock having a thickness of less than or equal to about 30 mm, and containing large (Mn,Fe)Al.sub.6 intermetallics as principal intermetallic particles in said strip. The intermetallic particles have an average surface size at a surface of the strip and an average bulk size in a bulk of the strip, the average surface size being greater than the average bulk size. The strip article may be produced by supplying a molten aluminum alloy having a composition consisting, in addition to aluminum, essentially by weight of: Si between 0.05 and 0.15%; Fe between 0.3 and 0.6%; Mn between 0.6 and 1.2%; Mg between 1.1 and 1.8%; Cu between 0.2 and 0.6%; and other elements: less than or equal to 0.05% each element with a maximum of 0.2% for the total of other elements; and casting the molten alloy in a continuous caster having opposed moving mold surfaces to an as-cast thickness of less than or equal to 30 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Iljoon Jin, John Fitzsimon
  • Patent number: 6080360
    Abstract: A coating for a cylinder bore of a reciprocating engine with an iron, aluminum, or magnesium base comprises a hypereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy. The alloy is applied to a cylinder wall by thermal spraying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Harald Pfeffinger, Micheal Voit, Tilman Haug, Patrick Izquierdo, Herbert Gasthuber, Wolfgang Reichle, Axel Heuberger, Franz Rueckert, Peter Stocker, Helmut Proefrock
  • Patent number: 6077363
    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 < 5.0 1.0 < Mg < 2.0 Si < 0.25 Fe < 0.25 Mn < 0.55 ______________________________________all other elements: <0.25with 0<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<0.14l.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: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventors: Fabrice Heymes, Philippe Lequeu, Guy-Michel Raynaud
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 5925315
    Abstract: An antifrictional aluminum alloy and a method for making an aluminum alloy without lead are provided. The alloy has improved tribological characteristics and a base composition, in weight percent as follows:Silicon: 3.0-6.0Copper: 2.0-5.0Zinc: 0.5-5.0Magnesium: 0.25-0.5Nickel: 0.2-0.6Tin: 0.5-5.0Bismuth: 0.1-1.0Iron: up to 0.7Aluminum: essentially the balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Anna N. Bourkhina
  • 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: 5879478
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy for thixoforming with the composition (by weight): Si: 5%-7.2% Cu: 1%-5% Mg<1% Zn<3% Fe<1.5% other elements<1% each and<3% in total, with % Si<7.5-% Cu/3, which, when reheated to the semisolid state to the point at which a liquid fraction ratio between 35 and 55% is obtained, has an absence of non-remelted polyhedral silicon crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminium Pechiney
    Inventors: Willem Loue, Michel Garat
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 5738735
    Abstract: A high creep resistance aluminum alloy containing, in percent by weight:Cu: 2.0-3.0;Mg: 1.5-2.1;Mn: 0.3-0.7;Fe<0.3;Ni<0.3;Zr<0.15;Ti<0.15;Ag<1.0;Si<0.6;with Si and Ag in amounts such that 0.3<Si+0.4Ag<0.6; other elements <0.05 each and <0.15 total; and balance Al. The alloy has in its wrought state after being treated by natural aging, quenching and aging, a creep strain after 1,000 h at 150.degree. C. under a stress of 250 MPA of less than 0.3% and a fracture time of at least 2,500 h, and can be used for structural parts for aircraft or spacecraft, rotating machine parts, or plastic processing molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Pechiney Rhenalu
    Inventor: Denis Bechet
  • Patent number: 5728479
    Abstract: The present invention provides a filler alloy for brazing, which includes about 4 to 18 wt. % silicon; about 0.001 to 0.4 wt. % magnesium; about 0.01 to 0.3 wt. % lithium; not more than about 2 wt. % zinc; not more than about 1.25 wt. % manganese; not more than about 0.30 wt. % iron; not more than about 0.10 wt. % copper; not more than 0.15 wt. % impurities; balance aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: David L. Childree, Edgar G. Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 5705205
    Abstract: A process for increasing the yield of natural vanilla flavor. Green vanilla pods are hydrated. The resulting hydrated pods are ground, forming a liquid phase and a solid phase. The resulting ground hydrated product of green vanilla pods is treated with an enzymatic system including at least one enzyme. The enzyme system possesses from about 10 to about 1000 units of beta-glucose activity per gram of green vanilla pods. The ground hydrated green vanilla pods and the enzymatic system are incubated at a temperature of from about 10.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C. for a period of between about 2 hours and about 30 hours sufficient to allow the release of the vanilla flavor. The liquid phase containing the vanilla flavor is separated from the solid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Pernod Richard
    Inventor: Pascal Marc Brunerie
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 5593516
    Abstract: An aluminum-based alloy composition having improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness consists essentially of 2.5-5.5 percent copper, 0.10-2.30 percent magnesium, with minor amounts of grain refining elements, dispersoid additions and impurities and the balance aluminum. The amounts of copper and magnesium are controlled such that the solid solubility limit for these elements in aluminum is not exceeded. The inventive alloy composition may also include 0.10-1.00 percent silver for improved mechanical properties. The alloys are useful as high strength, high fracture toughness components for aircraft and aerospace structural parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: William A. Cassada, III
  • Patent number: 5582660
    Abstract: A process for fabricating an aluminum alloy rolled sheet particularly suitable for use for an automotive body, the process comprising: (a) providing a body of an alloy comprising about 0.8 to about 1.3 wt. % silicon, about 0.2 to about 0.6 wt. % magnesium, about 0.5 to about 1.8 wt. % copper, about 0.01 to about 0.1 wt. % manganese, about 0.01 to about 0.2 wt. % iron, the balance being substantially aluminum and incidental elements and impurities: (b) working the body to produce a sheet; (c) solution heat treating the sheet; and (d) rapidly quenching the sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the solution heat treat is performed at a temperature greater than 840.degree. F. and the sheet is rapidly quenched. The resulting sheet has an improved combination of excellent formability and good strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Rolf B. Erickson, Shawn J. Murtha
  • Patent number: 5573606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aluminum base die casting alloy having substantially improved mechanical properties, and a method for making die cast products from the alloy. More particularly the improved aluminum based alloy comprises 2.5-4.0% by weight magnesium, 0.2-0.6% by weight manganese, 0.25-0.6% by weight iron, 0.2-0.45% by weight silicon, less than 0.003% by weight beryllium with the remainder being aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Gibbs Die Casting Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Evans, Richard J. Hagan, William C. Routh, Roland N. Gibbs