High-strength 6XXX aluminum alloys and methods of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10538834-B2
Application number	US-201615381707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rolled aluminum alloy product comprising about 0.6-0.9 wt. % Cu, about 0.8-1.3 wt. % Si, about 1.0-1.3 wt. % Mg, about 0.03-0.25 wt. % Cr, about 0.05-0.2 wt. % Mn, about 0.15-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.2 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.25 wt. % Sn, up to about 0.9 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.1 wt. % Ti, up to about 0.07 wt. % Ni, and up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, with the remainder as Al.

2. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the rolled aluminum alloy product has a Si to Mg ratio of from about 0.55:1 to about 1.30:1 by weight.

3. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the rolled aluminum alloy product has an excess Si content of from −0.5 to 0.1.

4. A rolled aluminum alloy product comprising about 0.5-2.0 wt. % Cu, about 0.5-1.5 wt. % Si, about 0.5-1.5 wt. % Mg, about 0.001-0.25 wt. % Cr, about 0.005-0.4 wt. % Mn, about 0.1-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.2 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.25 wt. % Sn, up to about 4.0 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.15 wt. % Ti, less than 0.1 wt. % Ni, and up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, with the remainder as Al.

5. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 4 , comprising about 0.5-2.0 wt. % Cu, about 0.5-1.35 wt. % Si, about 0.6-1.5 wt. % Mg, about 0.001-0.18 wt. % Cr, about 0.005-0.4 wt. % Mn, about 0.1-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.2 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.25 wt. % Sn, up to about 0.9 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.15 wt. % Ti, less than 0.1 wt. % Ni, and up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, with the remainder as Al.

6. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 4 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises about 0.6-0.9 wt. % Cu, about 0.7-1.1 wt. % Si, about 0.9-1.5 wt. % Mg, about 0.06-0.15 wt. % Cr, about 0.05-0.3 wt. % Mn, about 0.1-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.2 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.25 wt. % Sn, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.15 wt. % Ti, up to about 0.07 wt. % Ni, and up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, with the remainder as Al.

7. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 4 , comprising about 0.5-1.8 wt. % Cu, about 0.5-1.0 wt. % Si, about 0.6-1.2 wt. % Mg, about 0.05-0.2 wt. % Cr, about 0.05-0.25 wt. % Mn, about 0.1-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.15 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.15 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.15 wt. % Sn, up to about 0.4 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.15 wt. % Ti, less than 0.05 wt. % Ni, up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al.

8. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 4 , comprising about 0.6-1.7 wt. % Cu, about 0.5-0.9 wt. % Si, about 0.7-1.1 wt. % Mg, about 0.05-0.15 wt. % Cr, about 0.1-0.2 wt. % Mn, about 0.1-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.1 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.1 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.1 wt. % Sn, up to about 0.25 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.15 wt. % Ti, less than 0.05 wt. % Ni, up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al.

9. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 4 , wherein the rolled aluminum alloy product has a Si to Mg ratio of from about 0.55:1 to about 1.30:1 by weight.

10. The rolled aluminum alloy product of claim 4 , wherein the rolled aluminum alloy product has an excess Si content of from −0.5 to 0.1.

11. A rolled aluminum alloy product comprising about 0.9-1.5 wt. % Cu, about 0.7-1.1 wt. % Si, about 0.7-1.2 wt. % Mg, about 0.06-0.15 wt. % Cr, about 0.05-0.3 wt. % Mn, about 0.1-0.3 wt. % Fe, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zr, up to about 0.2 wt. % Sc, up to about 0.25 wt. % Sn, up to about 0.2 wt. % Zn, up to about 0.15 wt. % Ti, up to about 0.07 wt. % Ni, and up to about 0.15 wt. % of impurities, with the remainder as Al.

Assignees

• Novelis Inc

Inventors

• Wen Wei
• Ahmed Hany
• Kamat Rajeev
• Bassi Corrado
• Florey Guillaume
• Bezencon Cyrille
• Timm Juergen
• Leyvraz David
• Despois Aude
• Das Sazol Kumar

Classifications

• C22F1/05

  of alloys of the Al-Si-Mg type, i.e. containing silicon and magnesium in approximately equal proportions · CPC title

• C22C21/06

  with magnesium as the next major constituent · CPC title

• B22D7/005 Primary

  from non-ferrous metals · CPC title

• C22C21/02 Primary

  with silicon as the next major constituent · CPC title

• C22C21/18

  with zinc · CPC title