Aluminum Company of America

Ralph W Rogers, Jr

William D Vernam

Harry C Stumpf

William G Truckner

William A Anderson

Charles H Deveney

Bernard W Lifka

Edsel W Johnson

A shaped aluminum article is disclosed characterized by a yield strength of over 414 MPa (60 ksi) and good corrosion resistance when aged to a T76 temper. The article is formed from an aluminum base alloy having good formability in an annealed state, and sufficiently low quench sensitivity to permit air quenching. The alloy consists essentially of: 6.5. to 7.5 wt. % zinc, 2.4 to 3.0 wt. % magnesium, 0.0 to 0.8 wt. % copper, and 0.01 to 0.18 wt. % zirconium, with the following maximum amounts of other alloying ingredients or impurities: 0.2 wt. % silicon, 0.4 wt. % iron, 0.1 wt. % manganese, 0.05 wt. % chromium, 0.06 wt. % titanium, and 0.05 wt. % maximum each other alloying ingredient or impurity with a total maximum of 0.15 wt. %, the balance consisting of aluminum.

High strength and corrosion resistant aluminum article and method

A method of producing aluminum tube product suitable for use in heat exchangers is disclosed. The product is characterized by a substantially uniform distribution of relatively fine, generally equiaxed constituents comprised mainly of elemental silicon. The method comprises the steps of providing in billet form a body of aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of 2 to 13 wt. % Si, 0 to 4 wt. % Zn, at least 0.005 wt. % Sr, up to 1 wt. % Fe and up to 1 wt. % Cu, the balance essentially aluminum and incidental impurities and extruding said billet to a final product or after extruding the billet to a thick wall tube, drawing to a final product for use as tubes in a heat exchanger assembly.

Aluminum alloy tube product and method

A wrought aluminum alloy product is disclosed. The alloy consists essentially of 0.5 to 10 wt. % Mg, 0.1 to 1.6 wt. % Mn, 0 to 0.35 wt. % Cr, at least 0.005 wt. % Sr, less than 1 wt. % Fe, 1 wt. % max. Si, 3.5 wt. % max. Zn, 1 wt. % max. Cu, the remainder aluminum and incidental impurities. The product is characterized by the presence of at least one intermetallic phase of the type containing Al-Fe-Si, Al-Fe-Mn and Al-Fe-Mn-Si, wherein at least one of such phases is refined.

Wrought aluminum base alloy products having refined intermetallic phases

A wrought aluminum alloy sheet product suitable for forming into heat exchanger fins is disclosed. The sheet product contains essentially 2 to 13 wt. % Si, 4 max, wt. % Zn, 0.005 to 0.5 wt. % Sr, up to 1 wt. % each of Fe and Cu, the balance essentially aluminum and incidental impurities. The sheet product is characterized by a substantially uniform distribution of relatively fine generally equiaxed constituents comprised mainly of elemental silicon.

Aluminum alloy sheet product suitable for heat exchanger fins and method

A wrought aluminum alloy product is disclosed. The alloy consists essentially of 0.5 to 10 wt. % Mg, 0.3 wt. % max. Mn, 0 to 0.35 wt. % Cr, at least 0.005 wt. % Sr, less than 1 wt. % Fe, 0.3 wt. % max. free Si, 3.5 wt. % max. Zn, 1 wt. % max. Cu, 0.3 wt. % max. Ti, the remainder aluminum and incidental impurities. The product is characterized by the presence of an intermetallic phase of the type containing Al-Fe in a refined condition.

Wrought aluminum base alloy product having refined Al-Fe type

An improved cartridge case is fabricated from rod or bar stock formed from a billet of an alloy containing, by weight, 5.2 to 6.2% Zn, 1.9 to 2.5% Mg, 1.2 to 1.9% Cu, 0.18 to 0.25% Cr, the remainder essentially aluminum. The method of fabrication of the cartridge case from a billet of the alloy comprises a controlled sequence of steps in forming rod or bar working stock so as to ensure against the formation of coarse recrystallized grains and the consequent forming of surface cracks or checks in subsequent metal working operations which include segmenting the rod, annealing the segmented parts and thereafter forming such segments into cartridge cases by cupping and wall ironing procedures. The mouth of the case can be annealed for ease of forming a retaining groove about a projectile positioned in the mouth of the case and in some instances for providing resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

Aluminum cartridge case

An improved automotive bumper or bumper back-up bar is provided in an aluminum alloy containing selected amounts of zinc and magnesium with a small amount of zirconium and copper, with small amounts of chromium and manganese being optional but preferred. Copper is included to enhance strength. The alloy can contain 5.5-9% Zn, 0.8-2% Mg, 0.11-0.25% Cu, 0.05-0.2% Zr, and preferably 0.05-0.35% Mn or 0.05-0.25% Cr, or both. The alloy products contemplated include shaped sheet and extrusion bumper products. The improved method contemplates homogenization at a controlled temperature and control of subsequent thermal exposure to, in cooperation with the homogenization, assure good performance from the standpoint of both strength and resistance to stress corrosion cracking.

Growing community of inventors

New Kensington, PA, United States of America

Ralph W Rogers, Jr