Societe Metallurgique De Gerzat

Marc Anagnostidis

Roger Develay

Jean Coupry

A hollow body from an aluminum alloy is prepared by a method of manufacturing a hollow body under pressure from an aluminum alloy, comprising the steps of:

Method of making hollow bodies under pressure from aluminum alloys

The invention relates to a process for obtaining hollow bodies made of aluminum alloy having a high bursting strength, and to the products thus obtained. The alloy contains (by weight): from 7.6 to 9.5% of Zn from 1 to 1.8% of Cu; from 2.4 to 3.5% of Mg; from 0.07 to 0.17% of Cr; from 0.15 to 0.25% of Mn; from 0.08 to 0.14% of Zr; less than 0.2% of Fe, 0.15% of Si; 0.10% of Ti; and optionally less than 0.01% of V. It has a tensile stress (lengthwise direction) and a bursting strength (transverse direction) greater than or equal to 660 MPa. Its structure is characterized by the absence of large intermetallic compounds (&gt;35 .mu.m) after a specific solidification test. It can be used in all the safety applications involving a container under pressure (bottles of compressed gas, etc.).

Process for the manufacture of hollow bodies made of aluminum alloy and

Bottles for compressed gases of AU6MGT with good mechanical properties and resilience, coupled with resistance to intercrystalline corrosion and to corrosion under tension. These bottles are obtained by drawing on a mandrel, in the absence of supports or, better still, by the combined drawing of an extruded blank, quenched and aged, comprising a cylindrical part and a base, followed by tapering of the end at a temperature of from 350.degree. to 400.degree. C, the propagation of heat towards the cylindrical part being prevented by means of a cooling ring, and finally by quenching in cold water until cooling is complete. The bottles obtained by this method are extremely safe to use and satisfy the most stringent requirements, in particular in the field of aviation, space vehicles and in every case where it is desired to combine minimal weight with good resilience and high resistance to corrosion.

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Chamalieres, France

Marc Anagnostidis