Aluminum Company of America

R Steve James

Roberto J Rioja

Joel A Bowers

A method of providing a lithium containing aluminum base alloy product having, in combination, enhanced strength and fracture toughness characteristics is disclosed. The method comprises providing a worked and solution heat treated body of a lithium containing aluminum base alloy product and subjecting the product to first stage aging in a temperature range of 250.degree. to 415.degree. F. Further, the method comprises subjecting the worked body to a second stage aging in a temperature range of 100.degree. to 330.degree. F. for a time sufficient to provide the enhanced strength and fracture toughness.

Heat treatment of aluminum-lithium alloys

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.

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Gibsonia, PA, United States of America

R Steve James