US4000008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating cast aluminum metal to lower the recrystallization temperature
Assignee: Southwire Co LLC
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Filing: 1975-02-03
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Granted: 1976-12-28
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Expires: 1995-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of treating metal stock to lower the recrystallization temperature thereof comprising casting the metal into a continuous bar in a moving mold formed by a groove in the periphery of a casting wheel and an endless belt lying adjacent the groove along a portion of the periphery of the wheel, hot-working the bar substantially immediately after casting while the bar is in substantially that condition as cast by rolling the bar in closed roll passes to obtain a continuous metal rod, and allowing the rod to cool from the elevated rolling temperature to about 400° F in a minimum of 30 seconds and from about 400° F to ambient temperature at a maximum cooling rate of 300° F per minute. A metal rod processed in this fashion has a lower recrystallization temperature than one which is quenched or quickly cooled after rolling.
Inventors
- 👤 Enrique Henry Chia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:07
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/04; B; B22; B22D; B22D11/00; B22D11/06; B22D11/0602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of treating an aluminum base metal having at least one alloying element alloyed therewith to lower the recrystallization temperature thereof comprising: a. casting the metal in a moving mold formed by a groove in the periphery of a casting wheel and an endless belt lying adjacent the groove along a portion of the periphery of the wheel to form a continuous aluminum bar having intermetallic compound precipitates formed therein; b. hot-working the bar substantially immediately after casting while the bar is in substantially that condition as cast by rolling the bar in a rolling mill having closed roll passes to obtain a continuous metal rod having a subgrain structure of given cell size and to break-up and disperse said precipitates therethrough, the bar exiting the rolling mill at a temperature of from about 500° F to about 850° F; and c. cooling the rod from the elevated rolling temperature to about 400° F in a minimum of 30 seconds at a rate selected to achieve an increase in said cell size by the process of static recovery and from about 400° F to ambient temperature at a maximum cooling rate of 300° F per minute selected to permit further precipitation of said intermetallic compounds and coalescence into large coarse precipitate particles thereby lowering the recrystallization temperature of the metal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of treating an aluminum base metal having at least one alloying element alloyed therewith to lower the recrystallization temperature thereof comprising: a. casting the metal in a moving mold formed by a groove in the periphery of a casting wheel and an endless belt lying adjacent the groove along a portion of the periphery of the wheel to form a continuous aluminum bar having intermetallic compound precipitates formed therein; b. hot-working the bar substantially immediately after casting while the bar is in substantially that condition as cast by rolling the bar in a rolling mill having closed roll passes to obtain a continuous metal rod having a subgrain structure of given cell size and to break-up and disperse said precipitates therethrough, the bar exiting the rolling mill at a temperature of from about 500° F to about 850° F; and c. cooling the rod from the elevated rolling temperature to about 400° F in a minimum of 30 seconds at a rate selected to achieve an increase in said cell size by the process of static recovery and from about 400° F to ambient temperature at a maximum cooling rate of 300° F per minute selected to permit further precipitation of said intermetallic compounds and coalescence into large coarse precipitate particles thereby lowering the recrystallization temperature of the metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, step (c) wherein the rod is at a temperature of from about 550° F to about 750° F as it exits the rolling mill.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, step (c) wherein the rod is cooled from the elevated rolling temperature to ambient temperature in the absence of application of any quenching medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of cooling the rod from the elevated rolling temperature to ambient temperature is accomplished by application of a cooling solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aluminum base metal is electrical conductor grade aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 including the step, prior to casting the metal into a continuous bar, of alloying aluminum having associated trace elements with at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, silicon, copper, magnesium and rare earths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein aluminum is alloyed with from about 0.01 to about 1.20 weight percent iron and up to about 1.00 weight percent silicon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein aluminum is alloyed with from about 0.30 to about 0.95 weight percent iron and from about 0.01 to about 0.15 weight percent silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein aluminum is alloyed with from about 0.20 to about 1.60 weight percent cobalt and from about 0.30 to about 1.30 weight percent iron.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 wherein aluminum is alloyed with from about 0.20 to about 1.60 weight percent nickel and from about 0.30 to about 1.30 weight percent iron.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein aluminum is alloyed with from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent nickel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 further including the subsequent steps of drawing the cooled rod with no preliminary or intermediate anneals to form wire; and simultaneously annealing the wire and enameling the wire with an electrolytic resin at a temperature of below about 500° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 further including the subsequent steps of applying a thin annular sheath of cladding material around the entire periphery of said rod, and bonding said sheath to said rod to produce a clad rod suitable for subsequent drawing into wire without subsequent heat treating or metal cutting operations on said clad rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said cladding material is tin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said cladding material is copper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the maximum temperature of the rod during the bonding step is less than about 500° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of thereafter drawing the clad rod with no preliminary or intermediate anneals to form wire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 including the step of finally annealing or partially annealing the wire at a temperature of below about 500° F.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-12-28 | 1980-06-28 | 1980-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-28 | 1984-06-28 | 1984-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-28 | 1988-06-28 | 1988-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |