Abstract:
A method wherein an optionally partially worked rough blank casting is provided then (1) the oxide layer on the castings is removed and means are implemented to prevent it being reformed, (2) a heat treatment is carried out in a furnace containing a non-oxidising atmosphere in order to homogenise and redissolve precipitates comprising alloying elements present in the aluminium matrix, (3) the homogenising heat treatment is continued under conditions enabling most of the hydrogen in the castings to be extracted until the hydrogen content is reduced to less than 0.05 ppm and preferably less than 0.03 ppm, and (4) said castings are worked in such a way that the thickness or cross-section thereof is reduced by at least 10 %, under such conditions that any residual pores remaining after the precipitates have been redissolved and the gas removed may be filled. Said method advantageously includes a further step (5) of selecting worked castings by means of a non-destructive testing method whereby residual flaws with a size exceeding a predetermined threshold may be detected, the flaw density may be determined and castings having a flaw density higher than a predetermined threshold may be discarded.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method of preventing stickers from forming when annealing nonferrous metal alloys. The method comprises the phases of heating, holding and cooling, the material to be annealed being exposed to an inert or oxidizing protective gas atmosphere during structural transformation, such that during this time a thin oxide layer forms on the surface of the material being annealed and/or an existing oxide layer is retained, this layer preventing nonferrous metal parts from sticking together.
Abstract:
An aluminum-alloy article such as a fastener or rivet (40) is prepared by providing an aluminum-alloy article precursor that is not in its final heat-treated state, and in one form is in its solution treated/annealed state. A curable organic coating material is also provided. The method includes anodizing the article precursor, preferably in chromic acid solution and without chemical sealing during anodizing, applying the organic coating material to the aluminum-alloy article precursor, and precipitation heat-treating the coated aluminum article precursor to its final heat-treated state, thereby simultaneously curing the organic coating. If the aluminum alloy temper is of the naturally aging type, it is optionally lightly deformed prior to precipitation treatment aging. The approach may also be applied to articles that are not solution treated/annealed and aged, by first overly deforming the article precursor so that the curing treatment of the coating also partially anneals the article precursor to the final desired deformation state.