Abstract:
Described are processes for shaping a hardened heat treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys, such as hardened 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys, or articles made from such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the article, which may be in a form of a sheet or a blank, before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the alloy is heated to a specified temperature in the range of 125-425°C at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-200°C/s, for example, 3-90°C/s or 90-150°C/s. Such a combination of the temperature and the heating rate can result in an advantageous combination of article properties.
Abstract:
Disclosed are welds formed from improved resistance spot welding. Resistance spot welding includes positioning a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet between two electrodes, contacting the two electrodes together on to opposing surfaces of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet, and applying at least a minimum current to the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet through the two electrodes to form a weld having a minimum weld size to join the first metal sheet with the second metal sheet. At least one of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet is a fusion alloy where the composition of at least one outer layer of the sheet is different from the composition of the core of the sheet.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an automotive clad sheet product comprising a core Sayer and at least one clad layer wherein the core comprises an alloy of the following composition in weight %: Mg 0.45-0,8, Si 0.45-0.7, Cu 0.05-0.25, Mn 0.05-0.2, Fe up to 0,35, other elements (or impurities)
Abstract:
Processes for improving the strength of heat-treatable, age hardenable aluminum alloys, such as 6xxx, 2xxx and 7xxx aluminum alloys, are provided. The processes for improving the strength of heat-treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys involve a heat treatment step, termed "shock heat treatment," which involves heat treatment at 200 to 350 °C that is conducted at a fast heating rate (for example 10 to 220 °C/seconds) for a relatively short period of time (for example, for 60 seconds or less or for 5 to 30 seconds). In some examples, the shock heat treatment is accomplished by contact heating, such as heating an aluminum alloy article between complementary shaped heated dies of a press. Aluminum alloy articles, such as automotive panels, produced by the disclosed shock heat treatment are also provided.
Abstract:
A continuous casting and rolling line for casting, rolling, and otherwise preparing metal strip can produce distributable metal strip without requiring cold rolling or the use of a solution heat treatment line. A metal strip can be continuously cast from a continuous casting device and coiled into a metal coil, optionally after being subjected to post-casting quenching. This intermediate coil can be stored until ready for hot rolling. The as-cast metal strip can undergo reheating prior to hot rolling, either during coil storage or immediately prior to hot rolling. The heated metal strip can be cooled to a rolling temperature and hot rolled through one or more roll stands. The rolled metal strip can optionally be reheated and quenched prior to coiling for delivery. This final coiled metal strip can be of the desired gauge and have the desired physical characteristics for distribution to a manufacturing facility.
Abstract:
Moving metal strips can be heat treated with any number or combination of dimensionally variable tempers across widths, lengths, or thicknesses of a metal strip. To provide dimensionally variable heat treatment, an apparatus can include one or more heating units suitable to increase the temperature of a metal strip moving proximate the apparatus to a heat treatment temperature. The apparatus can also include one or more cooling units positioned near the heating units to absorb heat and cool the metal strip to minimize the amount of heat transferred from a first region of the metal strip that is to be treated to a second region of the metal strip that is not to be treated.
Abstract:
Disclosed are high-strength aluminum alloys and methods of making and processing such alloys. More particularly, disclosed is a 6XXX series aluminum alloy exhibiting improved mechanical strength, formability, corrosion resistance, and anodized qualities. An exemplary method includes homogenizing, hot rolling, solutionizing, and quenching. In some cases, the processing steps can further include annealing and/or cold rolling.
Abstract:
Metal work rolls texturized with engineered textures can impart desired impression patterns on metal strips. Engineered textures can be controlled with particularity to achieve desired surface characteristics (e.g., lubricant trapping, coefficient of friction, or surface reflectivity) on work rolls and metal strips, and to allow for impression patterns to be imparted on metal strips during high percentages of reduction of thickness (e.g., greater than about 5% or greater than about 15%, such as around 30%-55%). Engineered textures can be applied by focusing energy beams at specific points of an outer surface of a work roll to impart texture elements on the work roll. In some cases, an engineered texture element that can be used to generate a generally circular impression element can be generally elliptical in shape, having a length that is shorter than its width by a factor dependent on the reduction of thickness percentage.
Abstract:
In a first aspect, the invention provides aluminium alloy comprising the following composition, all values in weight %: Si 0.25 - 1.5 Cu 0.3 - 1.5 Fe up to 0.5 Mn up to 0.1 all other elements including Mg being incidental and present (if at all) then in an amount less than or equal to 0.05 individually, and less than or equal to 0.15 in aggregate, the balance being aluminium. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composite aluminium sheet product comprising a core layer and at least one clad layer wherein the at least one clad layer is an aluminium alloy comprising the following composition, all values in weight%: Si 0.25 - 1.5 Cu 0.3 - 1.5 Fe up to 0.5 Mn up to 0.1 all other elements including Mg being incidental and present (if at all) then in an amount less than or equal to 0.05 individually, and less than or equal to 0.15 in aggregate, the balance being aluminium. In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of making a joined structure of a steel component and an aluminium component made from the alloy and/or the sheet product of the invention.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a clad sheet product comprising a core layer and at least one clad layer wherein the core comprises an alloy of the following composition in weight %: Mg 0.90 - 1.40; Si 0.90 - 1.40; Cu 0.75 - 1.40; Mn
Abstract translation:本发明涉及一种包覆芯片产品,其包括芯层和至少一个包覆层,其中芯包含以重量%以下组成的合金:Mg 0.90-1.40; Si 0.90-1.40; Cu 0.75〜1.40; Mn <0.40; Cr <0.20; Fe <0.30; 其他<0.05,总共<0.15; 平衡铝; 并且所述至少一个包覆层包含以重量%计的以下组成的合金:Mg 0.30-0.70; Si 0.30-0.80; Cu <0.30; Mn <0.30; Fe <0.30; 其他<0.05,总共<0.15; 平衡铝。 此外,本发明涉及一种生产包覆层产品的方法,包括芯层和至少一个覆层,其中芯包含以重量%以下组成的合金:Mg 0.90-1.40; Si 0.90-1.40; Cu 0.75〜1.40; Mn <0.40; Cr <0.20; Fe <0.30; 其他<0.05,总共<0.15; 平衡铝,并且所述至少一个包覆层包含以重量%的以下组成的合金:Mg 0.30-0.70; Si 0.30-0.80; Cu <0.30; Mn <0.30; Fe <0.30; 其他<0.05,总共<0.15; 包括以下步骤:制备具有一个芯层和至少一个包覆层的复合锭; 进行均质处理; 将均质复合锭热轧成热轧板材; 将热轧板材冷轧成冷轧板材; 进行溶解处理; 淬火冷却后的冷轧板材,然后进行预熟化,缓慢冷却至室温。