Aluminum Company of America

William D Vernam

Ralph W Rogers, Jr

Harry C Stumpf

William A Anderson

Joseph W Evancho

George D Wilkinson

Bernard W Lifka

An improved aluminum base alloy product is disclosed, the product comprising 0 to 3.0 wt. % Cu, 0 to 1.5 wt. % Mn, 0.1 to 4.0 wt. % Mg, 0.8 to 8.5 wt. % Zn, at least 0.005 wt. % Sr, max. 1.0 wt. % Si, max. 0.8 wt. % Fe and max. 0.45 wt. % Cr, 0 to 0.2 wt. % Zr, the remainder aluminum and incidental elements and impurities.

Aluminum base alloys of the A1-Cu-Mg-Zn type

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 aluminum brazing sheet comprises a core of an aluminum alloy and a first layer of an aluminum brazing alloy provided on at least one side of the core to form a composite. A second layer of an aluminum alloy is clad on both sides of the composite. The aluminum alloy of the second layer can contain 0.5 to 1.2 wt.% Mg and 1.2 to 1.8 wt.% Si. In addition, the aluminum alloy of the second layer can contain 0.2 wt.% Cu max., 0.7 wt.% Fe max., 1.5 wt.% Mn max., the remainder aluminum and incidental impurities. The second layer has a melting point substantially equivalent to the melting point of the brazing layer.

Aluminum brazing sheet

Aluminum brazing sheet is produced from a composite assembly comprising an ingot of aluminum alloy, at least one side of the ingot provided with a layer of an aluminum brazing alloy consisting essentially of not greater than 0.35 wt.% magnesium and 6.0 to 13.0 wt.% silicon, the remainder aluminum and incidental impurities. A layer of aluminum for rolling purposes is provided on at least one of said ingot and said brazing layer, the rolling layer being substantially free of elemental silicon and consisting essentially of 0.2 wt.% Cu max., 0.4 wt.% Fe max., 0.05 wt.% max. for both Mn and Ti, up to 1.0 wt.% Mg, the remainder aluminum and incidental impurities. The composite assembly is hot bonded by rolling in a reversing mill and thereafter formed into brazing sheet in a continuous rolling mill.

Production of aluminum brazing sheet

Aluminum brazing sheet is produced by providing a composite assembly comprising an ingot of aluminum alloy and a layer of an aluminum brazing alloy on at least one side of the ingot. Provided on both sides of the composite assembly is a second layer of aluminum alloy substantially free of eutectic or elemental silicon. The composite assembly and the second layer are hot bonded and formed into brazing sheet by steps including hot rolling in a reversing mill followed by hot rolling in a continuous mill.

An aluminum brazing sheet comprises a core of an aluminum alloy and a first layer of an aluminum brazing alloy provided on at least one side of the core to form a composite. A second layer of an aluminum alloy is clad on both sides of the composite. The aluminum alloy of the second layer contains 0.5 to 1.2 wt.% Mg and 1.2 to 1.8 wt.% Si. In addition, the aluminum alloy of the second layer can contain 0.2 wt.% Cu max., 0.7 wt.% Fe max., 1.5 wt.% Mn max., the remainder aluminum and incidental impurities. The second layer has a melting point substantially equivalent to the melting point of the brazing layer.

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.

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New Kensington, PA, United States of America

William D Vernam