The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1996
Alok Kumar Gupta, Kingston, CA;
Michael J Wheeler, Kingston, CA;
Michael J Bull, Brighton, MI (US);
Pierre H Marois, Kingston, CA;
Alcan International Limited, Montreal, CA;
Abstract
A process of producing solution heat treated aluminum alloy sheet material comprises subjecting hot- or cold-rolled aluminum alloy sheet to solution heat treatment followed by quenching and, before substantial age hardening has taken place, subjecting the alloy sheet material to one or more subsequent heat treatments involving heating the material to a peak temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. (preferably 130.degree.-270.degree. C.), holding the material at the peak temperature for a period of time less than about 1 minute, and cooling the alloy from the peak temperature to a temperature of 85.degree. C. or less. The sheet material treated in this way can by used for automotive panels and has good a good 'paint bake response', i.e. an increase in yield strength from the T4 temper to the T8X temper upon painting and baking of the panels.