Novelis, Inc.

Julie Richard

Corrado Bassi

Aude Celine Despois

Maude Fumeaux

Etienne Combaz

Pasquier Romain

Rajeev G Kamat

Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty

Tudor Piroteala

Rajasekhar Talla

David Leyvraz

Rahul Vilas Kulkarni

Yudie Yuan

Peter Lloyd Redmond

Yi Wang

Cedric Wu

Aude Despois

Described herein are methods of processing heat treatable aluminum alloys using an accelerated aging step, along with aluminum alloy products prepared according to the methods. The methods of processing the heat treatable alloys described herein provide a more efficient method for producing aluminum alloy products having the desired strength and formability properties. For example, conventional methods of processing alloys can require 24 hours of aging. The methods described herein, however, substantially reduce the aging time, often requiring eight hours or less of aging time.

Rapidly aged, high strength, heat treatable aluminum alloy products and methods of making the same

Described are processes for shaping age hardenable aluminum alloys, such as 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys in T4 temper, or articles made of such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the sheet or article before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the sheet is heated to a specified temperature in the range of about 100-600&#xb0; C. at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-600&#xb0; C./s, for example about 3-90&#xb0; C./s. Such a combination of temperature and heating rate results in an advantageous combination of sheet properties.

Process for warm forming an age hardenable aluminum alloy in T4 temper

Described are processes for shaping a hardened heat treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys, such as hardened 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys, or articles made from such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the article, which may be in a form of a sheet or a blank, before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the alloy is heated to a specified temperature in the range of 125-425&#xb0; C. at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-200&#xb0; C./s, for example, 3-90&#xb0; C./s or 90-150&#xb0; C./s. Such a combination of the temperature and the heating rate can result in an advantageous combination of article properties.

Process for warm forming a hardened aluminum alloy

Processes for improving the strength of heat-treatable, age hardenable aluminum alloys, such as 6xxx, 2xxx and 7xxx aluminum alloys, are provided. The processes for improving the strength of heat-treatable, age-hardenable aluminum alloys involve a heat treatment step, termed 'shock heat treatment,' which involves heat treatment at 200 to 350&#xb0; C. that is conducted at a fast heating rate (for example 10 to 220&#xb0; C./seconds) for a relatively short period of time (for example, for 60 seconds or less or for 5 to 30 seconds). In some examples, the shock heat treatment is accomplished by contact heating, such as heating an aluminum alloy article between complementary shaped heated dies of a press. Aluminum alloy articles, such as automotive panels, produced by the disclosed shock heat treatment are also provided.

Shock heat treatment of aluminum alloy articles

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Valais, Switzerland

Julie Richard