US4806174A
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Aluminum-lithium alloys and method of making the same
Assignee: Alcoa Corp
•
Filing: 1985-11-19
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Granted: 1989-02-21
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Expires: 2005-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An aluminum base alloy wrought product having an isotropic texture and a process for preparing the same is disclosed. The product has the ability to develop improved properties in the 45 DEG direction in response to an aging treatment and is comprised of 0.5 to 4.0 wt.% Li, 0 to 5.0 wt.% Mg, up to 5.0 wt.% Cu, 0 to 1.0 wt.% Zr, 0 to 2.0 wt.% Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt.% Zn, 0.5 wt.% max. Fe, 0.5 wt.% max. Si, the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The product has imparted thereto, prior to a hot rolling step, a recrystallization effect to provide therein after hot rolling a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics. After an aging step, the product has improved levels of properties in the 45 DEG direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Chul W. Cho
- 👤 Ralph R. Sawtell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:04
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/04; C22C; C22C21/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of making lithium containing aluminum base alloy products having improved properties in the 45° direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body of an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce and Sc, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities; (b) heating the body to a temperature for a series of controlled low temperature hot working operations to put said body in a condition for recrystallization; (c) subjecting said body to said series of controlled low temperature hot working operations to provide an intermediate product; (d) recrystallizing said intermediate product; (e) hot working the recrystallized product to a shaped product; and (f) solution heat treating, quenching and aging said shaped product to provide a substantially non-recrystallized product having a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics, said product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of making lithium containing aluminum base alloy products having improved properties in the 45° direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body of an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce and Sc, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities; (b) heating the body to a temperature for a series of controlled low temperature hot working operations to put said body in a condition for recrystallization; (c) subjecting said body to said series of controlled low temperature hot working operations to provide an intermediate product; (d) recrystallizing said intermediate product; (e) hot working the recrystallized product to a shaped product; and (f) solution heat treating, quenching and aging said shaped product to provide a substantially non-recrystallized product having a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics, said product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (c) thereof the series includes at least two low temperature hot working steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first low temperature hot working operation is performed at a temperature higher than the second low temperature hot working step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (c) thereof the series includes three steps of low temperature hot working operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (c) thereof one operation in the series of the low temperature hot working operations is performed at a temperature in the range of 665° to 925° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (c) thereof one operation in the series of the low temperature hot working operations is performed at a temperature in the range of 500° to 700° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (c) thereof one operation in the series of the low temperature hot working operations is performed at a temperature in the range of 350° to 500° F.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the low temperature hot working operations include two steps, one of which is performed at a temperature in the range of 665° to 925° F. and one which is performed at a temperature in the range of 350° to 650° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the series of low temperature operations include three steps, one of which is performed at a temperature in the range of 665° to 925° F., a second which is performed at a temperature in the range of 500° to 700° F. and a third which is performed at a temperature in the range of 350° to 500°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the high temperature step of the low temperature hot working operations is performed first.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the low temperature step of the low temperature hot working operations is performed last.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (b) thereof the body is heated to a temperature in the range of 600° to 900° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein in step (b) thereof the body is heated to a temperature in the range of 700° to 900° F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body is subjected to homogenization prior to heating said body as set forth in claim 1(b).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein recrystallization is carried out at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1040° F.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein recrystallization is carried out at a temperature in the range of 980° to 1020° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intermediate product is at least partially recrystallized.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hot working of the recrystallized product is carried out at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1040° F.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hot working of the recrystallized product is carried out at a temperature in the range of 950° to 1020° F.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 including solution heat treating at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1050° F.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the final shaped product is artificially aged at a temperature in the range of 150° to 400° F.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the final shaped product is a flat rolled product.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the intermediate product is a flat rolled product having a thickness of 1.5 to 15 times the final product.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the intermediate product is a flat rolled product having a thickness of 1.5 to 5 times the final product.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body is an ingot and one step in said series of low temperature hot working operations reduces the thickness of the ingot by 5 to 25%.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body is an ingot and one step in said series of low temperature hot working operations reduces the thickness of the ingot by 12 to 20%.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body is an ingot and one step in said series reduces the thickness by 20 to 40% of the thickness of the starting material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body is an ingot and the third step in said series reduces the thickness by 20 to 30% of the thickness of the starting material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 including imparting to said product prior to an aging step a working effect equivalent to stretching said product at room temperature in order that, after an aging step, said product can have improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in accordance with claim 29 wherein said working effect equivalent to stretching the wrought product an amount greater than 3% of its original length at room temperature.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said working effect equivalent to stretching the wrought product 4 to 10% of its original length at room temperature.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 29 wherein said working effect is stretching the wrought product 3 to 10% of its original length at room temperature.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 29 wherein said working effect is stretching the wrought product 4 to 10% of its original length at room temperature.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said product contains 1.0 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 3.0 wt. % Mg, 0.03 to 0.15 wt. % Zr and 0 to 1.0 wt. % Mn.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said product contains 2.0 to 3.0 wt. % Li, 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 3.0 wt. % Mg, 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % Zr and 0 to 1.0 wt. % Mn.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of making lithium containing aluminum base alloy products having improved properties in the 45° direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.03 to 0.15 wt. % Zr, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max., i.e., 0.5 wt. % max. Si, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities; (b) heating the body to a temperature in the range of 700° to 900° F. for a series of low temperature hot working operations to put said body in a condition for recrystallization; (c) subjecting the heated body to at least two low temperature hot working operations wherein the first low temperature hot working operation is provided at a temperature higher than the temperature of the second low temperature operations to provide an intermediate flat rolled product having a thickness 1.5 to 15 times that of a final product; (d) recrystallizing said intermediate product at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1040° F.; (e) hot working the recrystallized product to a final thickness product, said hot working of the recrystallized product starting at a temperature of 900° F. and below 1040° F.; and (f) solution heat treating and quenching the final product; (g) imparting to said product prior to an aging step a working effect equivalent to stretching said product at room temperature; and (h) aging said shaped product to provide a substantially non-recrystallized final product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of making lithium containing aluminum base alloy products having improved properties in the 45° direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.03 to 0.15 wt. % Zr, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max., i.e., 0.5 wt. % max. Si, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities; (b) heating the body to a temperature in the range of 700° to 900° F. for a series of low temperature hot working operations to put said body in a condition for recrystallization; (c) subjecting the heated body to at least two low temperature hot working operations wherein the first low temperature hot working operation is provided at a temperature higher than the temperature of the second low temperature operations to provide an intermediate flat rolled product having a thickness 1.5 to 15 times that of a final product; (d) recrystallizing said intermediate product at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1040° F.; (e) hot working the recrystallized product to a final thickness product, said hot working of the recrystallized product starting at a temperature of 900° F. and below 1040° F.; and (f) solution heat treating and quenching the final product; (g) imparting to said product prior to an aging step a working effect equivalent to stretching said product at room temperature; and (h) aging said shaped product to provide a substantially non-recrystallized final product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
287 words
A method of making lithium containing aluminum base alloy products having improved properties in the 45° direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body of an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce and Sc, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities; (b) heating the body to a temperature in the range of 700° to 900° F. for a series of low temperature hot working operations to put said body in a condition for recrystallization; (c) subjecting the heated body to at least two low temperature hot working operations wherein the first low temperature hot working operation is provided at a temperature which is higher than the temperature of the second low temperature operations to provide an intermediate flat rolled product having a thickness 1.5 to 15 times that of a final product; (d) recrystallizing said intermediate product at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1040° F.; (e) hot working the recrystallized product to a final thickness product, said hot working of the recrystallized product starting at a temperature of 900° F. and below 1040° F.; and (f) solution heat treating and quenching the final product; (g) imparting to said product prior to an aging step a working effect equivalent to stretching said product at room temperature; and (h) aging said shaped product to provide a substantially non-recrystallized final product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
287 words
A method of making lithium containing aluminum base alloy products having improved properties in the 45° direction, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body of an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce and Sc, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities; (b) heating the body to a temperature in the range of 700° to 900° F. for a series of low temperature hot working operations to put said body in a condition for recrystallization; (c) subjecting the heated body to at least two low temperature hot working operations wherein the first low temperature hot working operation is provided at a temperature which is higher than the temperature of the second low temperature operations to provide an intermediate flat rolled product having a thickness 1.5 to 15 times that of a final product; (d) recrystallizing said intermediate product at a temperature in the range of 900° to 1040° F.; (e) hot working the recrystallized product to a final thickness product, said hot working of the recrystallized product starting at a temperature of 900° F. and below 1040° F.; and (f) solution heat treating and quenching the final product; (g) imparting to said product prior to an aging step a working effect equivalent to stretching said product at room temperature; and (h) aging said shaped product to provide a substantially non-recrystallized final product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 37 wherein the first low temperature hot working is performed at a temperature in the range of 500° to 850° F.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 37 wherein the second low temperature hot working is performed at a temperature in the range of 400° to 500° F.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 38 wherein in the low temperature hot working operations the thickness of the ingot is reduced by 5 to 50%.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 38 wherein in the low temperature hot working operations the thickness of the ingot is reduced by 5 to 40%.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in accordance with claim 38 wherein in the first step thereof the reduction is 20 to 40%.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 37 wherein in the second step thereof the reduction is in the range of 20 to 30%.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
134 words
An aluminum base alloy wrought product having the ability to develop improved properties in the 45° direction in response to an aging treatment, the product consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selectled from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce and Sc, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having a substantially unrecrystallized structure having imparted thereto a recrystallization effect to produce a wrought product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction in the aged condition and having a substantially unrecrystallized structure after being solution heat treated.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
134 words
An aluminum base alloy wrought product having the ability to develop improved properties in the 45° direction in response to an aging treatment, the product consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selectled from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce and Sc, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having a substantially unrecrystallized structure having imparted thereto a recrystallization effect to produce a wrought product having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction in the aged condition and having a substantially unrecrystallized structure after being solution heat treated.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
31 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein Li is in the range of 1.0 to 4.0 wt % and Zr is in the range of 0.03 to 0.15 wt. %.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein Cu is in the range of 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
63 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein Li is in the range of 2.0 to 3.0 wt. %, Cu is in the range of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. %, Mg is in the range 0 to 3.0 wt. %, Zr is in the range of 0.03 to 0.2 wt. % and Mn is in the range of 0 to 1.0 wt. %.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein the wrought product has a substantially unrecrystallized metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein the wrought product is a flat rolled product.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein the wrought product has an isotropic texture.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
136 words
An aluminum base alloy wrought product having the ability to form a recrystallized intermediate product after low temperature hot working, the product consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce, Sc, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having imparted thereto, a recrystallization effect to produce a wrought product having a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics and having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction in the aged condition and having a substantially unrecrystallized structure after being solution heat treated.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
136 words
An aluminum base alloy wrought product having the ability to form a recrystallized intermediate product after low temperature hot working, the product consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, and one of the elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Cr, Ce, Sc, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having imparted thereto, a recrystallization effect to produce a wrought product having a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics and having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction in the aged condition and having a substantially unrecrystallized structure after being solution heat treated.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
116 words
An aluminum base alloy wrought product having the ability to form a recrystallized intermediate product after low temperature hot working, the product consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.03 to 0.2 wt. % Zr, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics and having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction in the aged condition and having a substantially unrecrystallized structure after being solution heat treated.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
116 words
An aluminum base alloy wrought product having the ability to form a recrystallized intermediate product after low temperature hot working, the product consisting essentially of 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.03 to 0.2 wt. % Zr, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, the balance substantially aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the product having a metallurgical structure generally lacking intense work texture characteristics and having improved levels of properties in the 45° direction in the aged condition and having a substantially unrecrystallized structure after being solution heat treated.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
64 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein said product contains 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.03 to 0.15 wt. % Zr, 0 to 2.0 wt. % Mn, 0 to 7.0 wt. % Zn, 0.5 wt. % max. Fe, 0.5 wt. % max. Si, the balance aluminum, elements and incidental impurities.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
42 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein said product contains 1.0 to 4.0 wt. % Li, 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 3.0 wt. % Mg, 0.03 to 0.15 wt. % Zr and 0 to 1.0 wt. % Mn.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
42 words
The product in accordance with claim 44 wherein said product contains 2.0 to 3.0 wt. % Li, 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 3.0 wt. % Mg, 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % Zr and 0 to 1.0 wt. % Mn.
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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) | 1992-02-21 | 1992-08-22 | 1993-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-21 | 1996-08-22 | 1997-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-21 | 2000-08-22 | 2001-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |