Aluminum Company of America

Joel A Bowers

Roberto J Rioja

Edward L Colvin

Robert W Westerlund

R Steve James

Kenton P Young

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.degree. direction or more uniform properties throughout the thickness and in the short transverse direction in response to an aging treatment and is comprised of 0.2 to 5.0 wt. % Li, 0.05 to 6.0 wt. % Mg, at least 2.45 wt. % Cu, 0.1 to 1.0 wt. % Mn, 0.05 to 12 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.degree. direction or more uniform properties throughout the thickness and in the short transverse direction.

Aluminum-lithium alloys and method of making the same

Disclosed is a method of making aluminum base alloy flat rolled product substantially free of Luder's lines after stretching, the method comprising the steps of providing a body of a lithium-containing aluminum base alloy and working the body to produce a flat rolled product prior to solution heat treating and quenching. The flat rolled product is preaged for a time and temperature which does not substantially affect mechanical properties but which permits stretching the flat rolled product without formation of Luder's lines. Thereafter, the preage flat rolled product is stretched and aged to a condition having a substantially stable level of mechanical properties.

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Bettendorf, IA, United States of America

Joel A Bowers