US4174232A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of manufacturing sheets, strips and foils from age hardenable aluminum alloys of the Al-Si-Mg-type
Assignee: Rio Tinto Switzerland AG
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Filing: 1977-12-22
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Granted: 1979-11-13
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Expires: 1997-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacture of sheets, strips and foils with high mechanical strength, good deformability, and very little formation of ears, from age hardenable aluminum alloys of the Al-Si-Mg type by continuous casting or strip casting and hot and cold rolling, characterized in that an Al-Mg-Si-alloy is employed, which contains an insoluble excess of silicon at a temperature of 450° to 550° C. usual for homogenization annealing for this type of alloy, this excess remaining in defined finely dispersed form in the matrix, when the alloy is subjected to such a heat treatment; the alloy having preferably a composition corresponding to the area A-B-C-D-A of FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, where A=1% Si/0.6% Mg (weight percent), B=1.8% Si/0.6% Mg, C=1.8% Si/0.2% Mg and D=1.2% Si/0.2% Mg, with facultatively additions of a maximum of 0.3% each of chromium, manganese, zirconium and/or titanium.
Inventors
- 👤 Dieter Lenz
- 👤 Erich Tragner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:31
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C21/00; C22C21/02; C22C21/04; C22C21/06; C22C21/08; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/04; C22F1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A process for fabricating high strength, improved formability, low earing aluminum strip, sheet and foil from age hardenable aluminum alloys of the Al-Si-Mg type, comprising: (A) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition consisting essentially of from about 1.0 to 1.8 weight percent silicon, from about 0.2 to 0.6 weight percent magnesium, and the balance essentially aluminum; (B) casting said alloy in strip form; (C) hot rolling said cast strip to a first thickness; (D) cold rolling said hot rolled strip to an intermediate thickness; and (E) annealing said cold rolled strip of intermediate thickness at a temperature of from about 450° C. to about 550° C. so as to provide an aluminum alloy matrix characterized by undissolved, finely dispersed silicon particles whose size is in the lower zone of the wavelengths of visible light so as to obtain good deformability and strong age hardening characteristics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A process for fabricating high strength, improved formability, low earing aluminum strip, sheet and foil from age hardenable aluminum alloys of the Al-Si-Mg type, comprising: (A) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition consisting essentially of from about 1.0 to 1.8 weight percent silicon, from about 0.2 to 0.6 weight percent magnesium, and the balance essentially aluminum; (B) casting said alloy in strip form; (C) hot rolling said cast strip to a first thickness; (D) cold rolling said hot rolled strip to an intermediate thickness; and (E) annealing said cold rolled strip of intermediate thickness at a temperature of from about 450° C. to about 550° C. so as to provide an aluminum alloy matrix characterized by undissolved, finely dispersed silicon particles whose size is in the lower zone of the wavelengths of visible light so as to obtain good deformability and strong age hardening characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition comprises from about 1.1 to 1.6 weight percent silicon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition comprises from about 1.2 to 1.5 weight percent silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition comprises up to 0.3 weight percent chromium, up to 0.3 weight percent manganese, up to 0.3 weight percent zirconium and up to 0.3 weight percent titanium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 comprising the step of: cooling said hot rolled strip in air to room temperature prior to cold rolling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said annealing time including heat up does not exceed 2 hours.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said annealing is carried out in a continuous strip furnace.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said cold rolling to intermediate thickness comprises a reduction of thickness from 1.1 to 5 times final thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: quenching said annealed strip to room temperature; age hardening said quenched aluminum strip; and cold rolling said age hardend aluminum strip to final thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: lacquering said cold rolled strip of final thickness by baking on.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said finely dispersed silicon particles are of the order of magnitude of about 5×10 -5 cm in diameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A process for fabricating high strength, improved formability, low earing aluminum strip, sheet and foil from age hardenable aluminum alloys including the steps of casting, hot rolling and cold rolling the improvement which comprises: (A) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition consisting essentially of from about 1.0 to 1.8 weight percent silicon, from about 0.2 to 0.6 weight percent magnesium, and the balance essentially aluminum; (B) casting said alloy; and (C) annealing said cast alloy at a temperature of from about 450° C. to about 550° C. so as to provide an aluminum alloy matrix characterized by undissolved, finely dispersed silicon particles whose size is in the lower zone of the wavelengths of visible light so as to obtain good deformability and strong age hardening characteristics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A process for fabricating high strength, improved formability, low earing aluminum strip, sheet and foil from age hardenable aluminum alloys including the steps of casting, hot rolling and cold rolling the improvement which comprises: (A) forming an aluminum alloy melt composition consisting essentially of from about 1.0 to 1.8 weight percent silicon, from about 0.2 to 0.6 weight percent magnesium, and the balance essentially aluminum; (B) casting said alloy; and (C) annealing said cast alloy at a temperature of from about 450° C. to about 550° C. so as to provide an aluminum alloy matrix characterized by undissolved, finely dispersed silicon particles whose size is in the lower zone of the wavelengths of visible light so as to obtain good deformability and strong age hardening characteristics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition is characterized by a silicon content in excess of the solubility limit of said silicon at said annealing temperature, said excess silicon being at least 0.1 weight percent greater than said solubility limit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition is characterized by a silicon content in excess of the solubility limit of said silicon at said annealing temperature, said excess silicon being at least 0.2 weight percent greater than said solubility limit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said anneal precedes said hot rolling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said anneal is between said hot rolling and said cold rolling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said anneal is subsequent to said hot rolling and said cold rolling.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition comprises from about 1.1 to 1.6 weight percent silicon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition comprises from about 1.2 to 1.5 weight percent silicon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition comprises up to 0.3 weight percent chromium, up to 0.3 weight percent manganese, up to 0.3 weight percent zirconium and up to 0.3 weight percent titanium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 comprising the step of: cooling said hot rolled strip in air to room temperature prior to cold rolling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said finely dispersed silicon particles are of the order of magnitude of about 5×10 -5 cm in diameter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition is characterized by a silicon content in excess of the solubility limit of said silicon at said annealing temperature, said excess silicon being at least 0.1 weight percent greater than said solubility limit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aluminum alloy melt composition is characterized by a silicon content in excess of the solubility limit of said silicon at said annealing temperature, said excess silicon being at least 0.2 weight percent greater than said solubility limit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3032448A
Cited
US3392062A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-12 | 1983-05-14 | 1983-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-12 | 1987-05-14 | 1987-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-12 | 1991-05-14 | 1991-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |