Coloring of metallic materials coated with aluminum

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345121-B2
Application number	US-201816144847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2018
Priority date	Sep 29, 2017
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

The disclosure provides an aluminized composite including a base material. The aluminized composite may also include a diffusion layer disposed over the base material. The aluminized composite may further include an aluminum material disposed over the diffusion layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aluminized composite comprising:
a base material;
a diffusion layer comprising Si in an Al matrix disposed on the base material; and
an aluminum alloy disposed on the diffusion layer, wherein the diffusion layer has a melting temperature lower than the aluminum alloy;
wherein the Si content in the Al matrix is lower than 1.0 atomic %.

2. The aluminized composite of claim 1 , wherein the base material is selected from steel and recycled aluminum.

3. The aluminized composite of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy has a thickness ranging from 0.5 μm to 1000 μm.

4. The aluminized composite of claim 1 , wherein the diffusion layer has a thickness of at least 20 μm.

5. A method of coloring a base material, the method comprising:
placing, in a joining device, a stack of layers comprising the base material, a first diffusion layer comprising Si in an Al matrix disposed on a first side of the base material, and a first aluminum layer disposed on the first diffusion layer, wherein the Si content in the Al matrix is lower than 1.0 atomic %;
applying a pressure to the stack of layers; and
heating the stack of layers to a first elevated temperature for a first period of time to join the aluminum layer to the base material.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the placing step further comprises:
disposing a second diffusion layer comprising Si in an Al matrix on a second side of the base material opposite the first side of the base material; and
disposing a second aluminum layer on the second diffusion layer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein, wherein the Si content in the Al matrix is lower than 1.0 atomic %.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising preheating the stack of layers to a second elevated temperature for a second period of time prior to the heating step.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first elevated temperature is within 80 degrees Celsius of the melting temperature of the diffusion layer.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pressure is at least 1 MPa.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the bonding area is at least 80%.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Yokoyama Yoshihiko
• Matsuyuki Naoto
• Wright James A
• Gable Brian M
• Counts William A
• Hamann Eric W

Classifications

• B23K20/1265

  Non-butt welded joints, e.g. overlap-joints, T-joints or spot welds · CPC title

• B32B37/10

  characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure · CPC title

• B23K20/2275

  the other layer being aluminium · CPC title

• B32B2309/02

  Temperature · CPC title

• B32B2311/30

  Iron, e.g. steel · CPC title