New 6xxx aluminum alloys

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025243566-A1
Application number	US-202519089782-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2025
Priority date	Oct 20, 2022
Publication date	Jul 31, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

New 6xxx aluminum alloy products are disclosed. The new 6xxx aluminum alloy products may include tin and may realize an improved combination of properties, such as an improved combination of two or more of strength, ductility (elongation), extrudability, extrusion temperature, extrusion speed, and the absence of visually apparent surface defects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A 6xxx aluminum alloy product comprising:
from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % Sn; from 0.4 to 1.6 wt. % Si; from 0.6 to 1.2 wt. % Mg;
wherein a weight ratio of (wt. % Si) to (wt. % Mg) is at least 0.75:1;
from 0.5 to 1.1 wt. % Cu; from 0.15 to 1.5 wt. % Mn; from 0.10 to 0.80 wt. % Fe;
wherein (wt. % Si)+(wt. % Mn)+(wt. % Fe) is at least 0.95 wt. %;
up to 1.2 wt. % Bi; up to 1.2 wt. % In; up to 1.0 wt. % Zn; up to 0.35 wt. % Cr; up to 0.25 wt. % V; up to 0.25 wt. % Zr; up to 0.15 wt. % Ti; up to 0.04 wt. % Pb; the balance being aluminum, optional incidental elements and impurities;
wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product comprises a dispersoid area fraction (f) of at least 0.30%, wherein the dispersoids comprise FeMn 3 Si 2 dispersoids.

2 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product includes from 0.80 wt. % Sn to 1.30 wt. % Sn.

3 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Si)+(wt. % Mn)+(wt. % Fe) is at least 1.0 wt. %.

4 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product includes not greater than 0.20 wt. % Bi.

5 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product includes not greater than 0.20 wt. % In.

6 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product includes not greater than 0.005 wt. % Pb.

7 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein a mean (average) dispersoid size is from 0.05 to 0.20 micrometers.

8 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein a D90 of the dispersoids is not greater than 0.30 micrometers, or not greater than 0.27 micrometers, or not greater than 0.24 micrometers, or not greater than 0.21 micrometers, or not greater than 0.19 micrometers, or not greater than 0.18 micrometers.

9 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein a D10 of the dispersoids is at least 0.02 micrometers, or at least 0.03 micrometers, or at least 0.04 micrometers.

10 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product comprises at least 3 vol. % <111> microtexture.

11 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product is a sheet, plate, extrusion or forging.

12 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 1 , wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy product is an extrusion.

13 . The 6xxx aluminum alloy product of claim 12 , wherein the extrusion is a rod.

14 . A method comprising:
(a) casting a billet of the 6xxx aluminum alloy, wherein the 6xxx aluminum alloy comprises:
from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % Sn;
from 0.4 to 1.6 wt. % Si;
from 0.6 to 1.2 wt. % Mg;
wherein a weight ratio of (wt. % Si) to (wt. % Mg) is at least 0.75:1;

from 0.5 to 1.1 wt. % Cu;
from 0.15 to 1.5 wt. % Mn;
from 0.10 to 0.80 wt. % Fe;
wherein (wt. % Si)+(wt. % Mn)+(wt. % Fe) is at least 0.95 wt. %;

up to 1.2 wt. % Bi;
up to 1.2 wt. % In;
up to 1.0 wt. % Zn;
up to 0.35 wt. % Cr;
up to 0.25 wt. % V;
up to 0.25 wt. % Zr;
up to 0.15 wt. % Ti;
up to 0.04 wt. % Pb;
the balance being aluminum, optional incidental elements and impurities;
(b) pre-heating the billet to an extrusion temperature, wherein the extrusion temperature is from 810° F. to 960° F.; and (c) extruding the billet into an extruded product.

15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising quenching the extruded product during the extruding step.

16 . The method of claim 14 , comprising, after the extruding step, solution heat treating and then quenching the extruded product.

17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising, after the quenching, artificially aging the extruded product.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extrusion speed is from 40 to 70 feet per minute.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extruded product is devoid of visually apparent surface defects.

Assignees

• Arconic Tech Llc

Inventors

• Ruan Yimin
• Berube Patrick

Classifications

• C22F1/04

  of aluminium or alloys based thereon · CPC title

• C22F1/002

  by rapid cooling or quenching; cooling agents used therefor · CPC title

• B22D21/007

  with low melting point, e.g. Al 659 degrees C, Mg 650 degrees C · CPC title

• B21C1/003

  Drawing materials of special alloys so far as the composition of the alloy requires or permits special drawing methods or sequences · CPC title

• C22F1/05 Primary

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