Thermomechanical process for improving the toughness of the high strength aluminum alloys

Abstract

Abstract A THERMOMECHANICAL PROCESS IS DISCLOSED FOR IMPROVING SOME SECONDARY PROPERTIES, SUCH AS DUCTILITY AND TOUGHNESS, OF HIGH STRENGTH HEAT-TREATABLE ALUMINUM ALLOYS, CONTAINING ONE OR MORE ANTI-RECRYSTALLIZING ELEMENTS, AND IN PARTICULAR THE ALLOYS OF THE SYSTEM AL-ZN-MG-(CU), WITHOUT DEGRADING THEIR PECULIAR STRENGTH, THE PROCESS COMPRISING SUBMITTING THE ALUMINUM ALLOY, IN THE FORM OF SLAB OR BILLET AND ITS AS-CAST STATE, TO A PARTIAL HOMOGENIZATION AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 300* AND 430* C., FOR A SOAKING TIME OF ABOUT 2 TO 15 HOURS, FOLLOWED BY A FIRST PLASTIC DEFORMATION AT A TEMPERATURE RANGING FROM 150* TO 250* C., AND BY A RAPID HEATING UP TO A TEMPERATURE FROM TEN TO 20 CENTIGRADE DEGREES BELOW THE LOW MELTING POINT, THE MATERIAL BEING KEPT AT THIS TEMPERATURE FOR A TIME OF ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 30 HOURS AND AFTERWARDS BEING COOLED IN CALM AIR AND IN THEN SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL TO A SECOND PLASTIC DEFORMATION ACCORDING TO CONVENTIONAL CYCLES OF ROLLING, EXTRUSION OR FORGING TO THE FINAL PRODUCT DIMENSIONS, SAID PRODUCT BEING FINALLY SUBMITTED TO A SOLUTION HEAT TREATMENT, QUENCHING AND AGEING IN ONE OR MORE STAGES.

Inventors

• 👤 Russo E Di
• 👤 M Buratti
• 👤 M Conserva

Bibliographic Details