US3990922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Processing aluminum alloys
Assignee: Rio Tinto Switzerland AG
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Filing: 1975-10-20
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Granted: 1976-11-09
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Expires: 1995-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of heat treating aluminum alloys of the aluminum magnesium-silicon type to improve processibility by extrusion which comprises initially homogenizing the alloys at an elevated temperature below the equilibrium solidus temperature of the alloy for from 2 to 12 hours, further homogenizing said alloys at an elevated temperature below the initial homogenization temperature and below the solvus temperature of the alloy for from 2 to 12 hours and slowly cooling said alloys to at least 800 DEG F at a rate of less than 100 DEG F per hour.
Inventors
- 👤 Damian V. Gullotti
- 👤 Philip R. Sperry
- 👤 William C. Setzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:55
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/04; C22F1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of heat treating aluminum alloys of the aluminum-magnesium-silicon type to improve processibility by extrusion which comprises: A. initially homogenizing said alloys at a temperature of from 1035° to 1125° F for from 2 to 12 hours provided that the temperture is maintained below the equilibrium solidus temperature; B. further homogenizing said alloys at a temperature of from 20° to 100° F below the solvus temperature for from 2 to 12 hours; and C. slowly cooling said alloys to at least 800° F at a rate of less than 100° F per hour.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of heat treating aluminum alloys of the aluminum-magnesium-silicon type to improve processibility by extrusion which comprises: A. initially homogenizing said alloys at a temperature of from 1035° to 1125° F for from 2 to 12 hours provided that the temperture is maintained below the equilibrium solidus temperature; B. further homogenizing said alloys at a temperature of from 20° to 100° F below the solvus temperature for from 2 to 12 hours; and C. slowly cooling said alloys to at least 800° F at a rate of less than 100° F per hour.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said initial homogenization is at a temperature of 1035° to 1080° F for from 4 to 10 hours, said further homogenization is at a temperature of from 20° to 50° F below the solvus temperature for from 4 to 10 hours and said slow cooling is at a rate of less than 50° F per hour.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said material is cooled to room temperature following said slow cooling step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the material is reheated to an elevated temperature after being cooled to room temperature and extruded at said elevated temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the material is reheated to a temperature of from 800° to 1025° F and held at said temperature for less than 15 minutes prior to extrusion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the extrusion entry temperature is from 800° to 900° F and the extrusion exit temperature is from 920° to 1020° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 4 wherein following said extrusion step the material is quenched and aged at a temperature of from 300° to 450° F for from 1 to 24 hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy contains from 0.2 to 1.5% magnesium and from 0.2 to 1.5% silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said alloy contains from 0.001 to 0.4% of a material selected from the group consisting of boron, titanium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, zirconium and mixtures thereof, with the boron being present in an amount up to 0.1%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said alloy contains a material selected from the group consisting of from 0.001 to 1.0% iron, from 0.001 to 0.5% copper, from 0.001 to 0.5% zinc and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy is aluminum alloy 6061 and wherein said initial homogenization temperature is from 1035° to 1080° F and said further homogenization is from 920° to 1000° F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-09 | 1980-05-10 | 1980-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-09 | 1984-05-10 | 1984-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-10 | 1988-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |