阅读说明：本技术 具有低织构的铝合金制品及其制作方法 (Aluminum alloy product with low texture and manufacturing method thereof ) 是由 S.K.达斯 M.费尔伯鲍姆 D.E.本津斯基 于 2018-06-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：本文提供具有均匀表面再结晶织构的铝合金。可通过本文所述的方法提供所述均匀表面再结晶织构。本文还提供用于生产具有均匀表面再结晶织构的铝合金的方法,所述方法可包括在大于或为约再结晶温度的温度下将铝铸造产品均质化并热轧至最终规格。(Provided herein are aluminum alloys having uniform surface recrystallization texture. The uniform surface recrystallization texture may be provided by the methods described herein. Also provided herein are methods for producing an aluminum alloy having a uniform surface recrystallization texture, which may include homogenizing and hot rolling an aluminum cast product to final gauge at a temperature greater than or about the recrystallization temperature.)

1. A method for making an aluminum alloy rolled article, the method comprising:

providing a molten aluminum alloy composition;

continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product;

homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and

rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form an aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness between 0.01mm and 7mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a homogenization temperature of the aluminum alloy cast product after exit from a continuous caster, wherein the homogenization temperature is between 400 ℃ and 600 ℃.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy cast product is not cooled below 400 ℃ prior to the homogenizing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a rolling temperature during rolling, wherein a starting temperature of the rolling is between 400 ℃ and 550 ℃, and wherein an outlet temperature of the rolling is between 300 ℃ and 500 ℃.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises maintaining the temperature at or above a recrystallization temperature of the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising subjecting the aluminum alloy rolled article to quenching after the rolling.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method does not comprise direct chill casting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method does not comprise cold rolling the aluminum alloy rolled article to a final thickness.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article comprises at least a first surface portion having a volume fraction of cubic texture component, goss (goss) texture component, brass texture component, S texture component, and copper texture component between 0% and 1%.

10. An aluminum alloy rolled article formed by a process comprising:

providing a molten aluminum alloy composition;

continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product;

homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and

rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form the aluminum alloy rolled article having a thickness between 0.01mm and 7mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃.

11. The aluminum alloy rolled article according to claim 10, wherein homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a homogenization temperature of the aluminum alloy cast product after exit from a continuous caster, wherein the homogenization temperature is between 400 ℃ and 600 ℃.

12. The aluminum alloy rolled product of claim 10, wherein the aluminum alloy cast product is not cooled below 400 ℃ prior to the homogenizing.

13. The aluminum alloy rolled product according to claim 10, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a rolling temperature during rolling, wherein a starting temperature of the rolling is between 400 ℃ and 550 ℃, and wherein an outlet temperature of the rolling is between 300 ℃ and 500 ℃.

14. The aluminum alloy rolled article of claim 10, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises maintaining the temperature at or above a recrystallization temperature of the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product.

15. The aluminum alloy rolled article of claim 10, wherein the process further comprises subjecting the aluminum alloy rolled article to quenching after the rolling.

16. The aluminum alloy rolled article of claim 10, wherein the process does not comprise direct chill casting.

17. The aluminum alloy rolled article of claim 10, wherein the process does not comprise cold rolling the aluminum alloy rolled article to a final thickness.

18. The aluminum alloy rolled article of claim 10 comprising at least a first surface portion having a volume fraction of cube texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components between 0% and 1%.

19. The aluminum alloy rolled article of claim 18, wherein the first surface portion has an isotropic texture.

20. The aluminum alloy rolled article according to claim 18, wherein the first surface portion exhibits substantially uniform thinning during forming across the first surface portion in any direction relative to a rolling direction.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to metallurgy, and more particularly to metal fabrication. In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides a rolled aluminum alloy article having a rolled surface with a low texture (e.g., a recrystallized texture). In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides methods of making such articles. In certain other aspects, the present disclosure provides various end uses of such articles, such as in automotive, transportation, electronic equipment, and industrial applications.

Background

Aluminum alloy articles are desirable for use in many different applications, such as those applications where strength and durability are particularly desirable. For example, aluminum alloys are commonly used in automotive structural applications in place of steel. Because aluminum alloys are typically about 2.8 times less dense than steel, the use of such materials reduces the weight of the vehicle and provides significant improvements in its fuel economy. Even so, the use of currently available aluminum alloys in automotive and other applications presents certain challenges.

One such challenge involves the appearance of recrystallized texture during processing (e.g., rolling) of the aluminum alloy article, which results in a high degree of anisotropy on the surface of the article. As a result, aluminum alloy rolled articles (e.g., aluminum alloy plates, aluminum alloy sheets, and aluminum alloy sheets) can have a substantial amount of recrystallized texture formed during the processing process.

Disclosure of Invention

Texturing of aluminum alloy rolled products can alter mechanical, strength, and forming characteristics. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide an aluminum alloy rolled product having a surface that is nearly isotropic and thus has nearly uniform surface characteristics. The present disclosure provides aluminum articles having surfaces or portions thereof that are substantially free of recrystallization texture, and methods for making and using such articles.

The terms embodiment and similar terms are intended to refer broadly to all subject matter of the present disclosure and the following claims. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the claims that follow. Embodiments of the disclosure covered herein are defined by the following claims, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the disclosure and introduces some concepts that are further described below in the detailed description section. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all of the drawings, and each claim.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include aluminum alloy rolled articles comprising a rolled surface, such as a rolled surface comprising a first surface portion substantially free of recrystallization texture. In some non-limiting examples, the first surface portion can have an isotropic texture, such as an isotropic texture comprising multiple texture components. As an example, the different texture components may constitute less than or about 1 volume percent (vol.%) of the first surface portion. In some aspects, the plurality of texture components comprises a surface texture component selected from the group consisting of: a cubic component, a goss component, a brass component, an S component, and a copper component. For example, in one embodiment, an aluminum alloy rolled article comprises a rolled surface having at least a portion that is free or substantially free of recrystallized texture and that includes less than or about 1 volume percent (i.e., 0 to 1 volume percent) of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components.

In embodiments, a surface having a substantial amount of cubic or other texture components may correspond to a surface that does not have isotropic texture. In other words, a surface including a large number of cubes or other texture components has a Langford coefficient (R value) in a direction diagonal to the longitudinal direction (rolling direction) of the surface lower than the Langford coefficient (R value) in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction (perpendicular to the rolling direction). By producing an aluminum alloy rolled article with little or randomized surface texture, the article can exhibit isotropic behavior in which the Langford coefficient does not vary significantly with changes in angle to the longitudinal direction.

The first surface portion optionally has one or more surface texture ratios between 0.80 and 1.25. In an embodiment, the surface texture ratio corresponds to a relationship between volume percentages of the first surface texture and the second surface texture. In some non-limiting examples, the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to brass component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of cubic component to goss component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of cubic component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of cubic component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to brass component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of brass component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of brass component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of copper component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to copper component to S component of 0.25, a ratio of goss component to copper component to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to copper component, A ratio of goss component to brass component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of brass component to S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, a ratio of goss component to brass component to S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25, or a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25. By controlling the amount and ratio of the different texture components, the aluminum rolled product can exhibit more isotropic properties.

In some non-limiting examples, the aluminum alloy rolled article may have any suitable width or length. Optionally, the alloy of the aluminum alloy rolled article is a5xxx aluminum alloy or a6xxx aluminum alloy. In some further examples, the aluminum alloy rolled article may be produced without cold rolling (i.e., hot rolling to final gauge). In other words, the aluminum alloy rolled article may optionally be formed by a process that does not use cold rolling of the article to final gauge or thickness. In some non-limiting examples, the aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein can be formed by a process comprising: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form an aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness of no greater than 7mm, such as between 0.01mm and 7mm, between 0.01mm and 6mm, between 0.01mm and 5mm, between 0.01mm and 4mm, between 0.01mm and 3mm, or between 0.01mm and 2 mm. Advantageously, the rolling may be carried out at a temperature of not less than 300 ℃, such as between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃. In embodiments, rolling at elevated temperatures can be used to prevent or reduce recrystallization and associated texturing of aluminum alloy rolled articles.

In some non-limiting examples, a method for making an aluminum alloy rolled article comprises: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form an aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness of no greater than 7mm, such as between 0.01mm and 7mm, between 0.01mm and 6mm, between 0.01mm and 5mm, between 0.01mm and 4mm, between 0.01mm and 3mm, or between 0.01mm and 2mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature of no less than 300 ℃, such as between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃. After rolling, the rolled aluminum alloy rolled article may optionally be subjected to quenching. In some examples, direct chill casting is not utilized. In some examples, the aluminum alloy rolled article is rolled to a final thickness during rolling, and subsequent cold rolling processes are not used to achieve the final thickness of the aluminum alloy rolled article.

Optionally, homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling the homogenization temperature of the aluminum alloy cast product, such as after exit from the continuous caster. Optionally, the homogenization temperature is between 400 ℃ and 600 ℃, between 450 ℃ and 600 ℃, between 400 ℃ and 500 ℃, or between 500 ℃ and 600 ℃. In some examples, the aluminum alloy cast product is not cooled to less than 400 ℃ prior to homogenization (i.e., between casting and homogenization). However, in other examples, the aluminum alloy cast product may be cooled to less than 400 ℃ prior to homogenization (i.e., between casting and homogenization).

Optionally, rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling the rolling temperature during rolling. For example, the start temperature of rolling is optionally between 400 ℃ and 550 ℃. Optionally, the exit temperature or finishing temperature of the rolling is between 300 ℃ and 500 ℃. In some examples, rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises maintaining the temperature at or above the recrystallization temperature of the homogenized aluminum alloy.

In some non-limiting examples, provided herein are aluminum alloy rolled articles that may be formed by a process comprising: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form an aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness of no greater than 7mm, such as between 0.01mm and 7mm, between 0.01mm and 6mm, between 0.01mm and 5mm, between 0.01mm and 4mm, between 0.01mm and 3mm, or between 0.01mm and 2mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature of no less than 300 ℃, such as between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃. In some non-limiting examples, the process does not include direct chill casting. In some further non-limiting examples, the continuous casting comprises using twin belt continuous casting. In some further non-limiting examples, the process does not include cold rolling.

In some aspects, the aluminum alloy rolled article comprises a first surface portion, such as a first surface portion that is substantially free of recrystallization texture. Optionally, the first surface portion has an isotropic texture, such as an isotropic texture comprising a plurality of texture components. For example, each texture component of the plurality of texture components may optionally comprise less than 1% by volume of the first surface portion. In some examples, the aluminum alloy rolled article may have an angularly uniform (isotropic) Langford coefficient (R value), such as an R value that does not significantly change (e.g., less than 10%, less than 5%, or less than 1%) with changes in angle relative to the rolling direction. For example, the R-value of an angularly uniform rolled aluminum product may advantageously vary between 0% and 10% (e.g., 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10%) in a direction parallel to the rolling direction (longitudinal), a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction (transverse), and a direction between the longitudinal and transverse directions (diagonal).

In some non-limiting examples, provided herein are aluminum alloy articles of manufacture. The aluminum alloy article of manufacture can be an automotive body part (e.g., a structural part or an outer panel). The aluminum alloy article of manufacture may be an electronic device housing, an aerospace body component, a transportation body component, or a container component (e.g., a storage case or an aluminum can). The aluminum alloy article of manufacture can optionally be formed from an aluminum alloy rolled article having a surface free or substantially free of recrystallization texture, such as by a technique involving subjecting the aluminum alloy rolled article having a surface free or substantially free of recrystallization texture to a stamping, drawing, or other forming process.

Drawings

The specification refers to the following drawings, wherein the use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or similar components.

Fig. 1 provides a schematic overview of methods and systems for making aluminum alloy rolled articles according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a graphical representation comparing a cubic texture component to a brass texture component of an aluminum alloy produced in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a diagram for an AA6451 alloy comparing cube texture, goss texture, brass texture, S texture, and copper texture components of the aluminum alloy produced, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for an AA6111 alloy comparing cube, goss, brass, S, and copper texture components of the aluminum alloys produced, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for an AA5754 alloy comparing cube texture, goss texture, brass texture, S texture, and copper texture components of produced aluminum alloys, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to aluminum alloy articles having isotropic surface textures. The aluminum alloy article having an isotropic surface texture can further have isotropic mechanical properties, thereby providing a highly formable aluminum alloy article. Additional aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to methods for producing aluminum alloy articles having isotropic surface textures. Additional aspects and features of the present disclosure include aluminum alloy rolled articles having isotropic surface texture.

Definition and description

The terms "invention," "the invention," "this invention," and "the invention" as used herein are intended to refer broadly to all subject matter of this patent application and the claims that follow. Statements containing these terms should be understood as not limiting the subject matter described herein or as not limiting the meaning or scope of the following patent claims.

In this specification, reference is made to alloys identified by the aluminium industry name (such as "series" or "6 xxx"). For an understanding of The numbering designation system most commonly used for naming and identifying Aluminum and its Alloys, reference is made to International Alloy Designations and chemical composition limitations for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys (International Alloy Designations and chemical composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys) or Registration records of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and chemical composition limitations for Aluminum Alloys in The Form of Castings and ingots (Registration Record of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and chemical compositions Limits for Aluminum Alloys in The Form of Castings and ingots) both published by The Aluminum Association (The Aluminum Association).

Aluminum alloys are described in terms of elemental composition in weight percent (wt.%) based on the total weight of the alloy. In certain examples of each alloy, the balance is aluminum, with the maximum wt.% of the sum of the impurities being 0.15%.

All ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all subranges subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of "1 to 10" should be considered to include any and all subranges between (and including) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more, e.g., 1 to 6.1, and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less, e.g., 5.5 to 10.

As used herein, the meaning of "a", "an", or "the" includes singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, a plate typically has a thickness of greater than about 15 mm. For example, a plate may refer to an aluminum or aluminum alloy product or article having a thickness of greater than or about 15mm, greater than or about 20mm, greater than or about 25mm, greater than or about 30mm, greater than or about 35mm, greater than or about 40mm, greater than or about 45mm, greater than or about 50mm, or greater than or about 100 mm.

As used herein, a thin sheet (also referred to as a sheet material sheet) generally has a thickness of about 4mm to about 15 mm. For example, the thickness of the sheet can be about 4mm, about 5mm, about 6mm, about 7mm, about 8mm, about 9mm, about 10mm, about 11mm, about 12mm, about 13mm, about 14mm, or about 15 mm.

As used herein, sheet material generally refers to an aluminum (or aluminum alloy) cast product or article having a thickness of less than about 4 mm. For example, the sheet may have a thickness of less than about 4mm, less than about 3mm, less than about 2mm, less than about 1mm, less than about 0.5mm, less than about 0.3mm (e.g., about 0.2mm), or between 0.2mm and 4 mm.

Reference is made in this application to alloy tempers or conditions. For an understanding of the most common Alloy Temper descriptions, please see "" American National Standards (ANSI) H35(American National Standards (ANSI) H35on Alloy and temperature Designation Systems ") for alloys and Temper Designation Systems". Condition F or temper refers to the aluminum alloy produced. Hxx conditions or temper (also referred to herein as H temper) refer to non-heat treatable aluminum alloys with or without heat treatment (e.g., annealing) after cold rolling. Suitable H tempers include HX1, HX2, HX3HX4, HX5, HX6, HX7, HX8, or HX9 tempers. T1 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been cooled by hot working and naturally aged (e.g., at room temperature). T2 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been hot work cooled, cold worked, and naturally aged. T3 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been solution heat treated, cold worked, and naturally aged. The T4 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been solution heat treated and naturally aged. T5 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been hot work cooled and artificially aged (at elevated temperatures). The T6 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been solution heat treated and artificially aged. The T7 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been solution heat treated and artificially overaged. T8x condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been solution heat treated, cold worked, and artificially aged. T9 condition or temper refers to an aluminum alloy that has been solution heat treated, artificially aged, and cold worked. The W condition or temper refers to the aluminum alloy after solution heat treatment.

As used herein, the term "substantially free of surface texture" refers to the characteristics of all or part of the surface of a prepared metal plate, sheet or sheet, wherein none of the cubic texture component, goss texture component, brass texture component, S texture component or copper texture component is the predominant texture component present within the part of the surface of the prepared metal plate, sheet or sheet. For example, a surface that is substantially free of surface texture can have a low volume or area percentage of cube texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components, such as less than or about 1 volume percent or less than or about 1 area percent.

As used herein, the term "uniform thinning" refers to rolling deformation wherein the thickness of the produced metal plate, sheet or sheet is reduced during rolling such that the thickness of a first portion of the produced metal plate, sheet or sheet remains within ± 2% of the thickness of any other portion of the produced metal plate, sheet or sheet. In some cases, uniform thinning may refer to a uniform reduction in thickness of a produced metal plate, sheet, or sheet after being subjected to tensile stress in different directions, e.g., a longitudinal direction (rolling direction), a transverse direction (perpendicular to rolling direction), or a diagonal direction (direction between the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction). Optionally, the material undergoing uniform thinning may have a Langford coefficient (R-value) that does not vary significantly with changes in angle (i.e., angle from the rolling direction).

As used herein, terms such as "cast product," "cast metal product," "cast aluminum alloy product," "aluminum alloy cast product," and the like are interchangeable and refer to a product produced by direct chill casting (including direct chill co-casting) or semi-continuous casting, continuous casting (including, for example, by using a twin belt caster, twin roll caster, block caster, or any other continuous caster), electromagnetic casting, hot top casting, or any other casting method.

Rolled product of aluminium alloy

Surface of rolled aluminum alloy product

In some non-limiting examples, an aluminum alloy rolled article having a rolled surface can have at least a first surface portion with a low volume fraction (e.g., between 0% and 1% volume fraction) of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components, or substantially no recrystallized texture. In the context of the present disclosure, a surface portion substantially free of recrystallized texture refers to a surface portion that is uniform over an area defined as the surface portion, wherein all recrystallized texture components are not predominant. In some non-limiting examples, a surface portion having a low volume fraction (e.g., between 0% and 1% volume fraction) or substantially no recrystallized texture of the cube, goss, brass, S, and copper texture components may refer to a surface portion in which there is only a small amount of recrystallized texture that exhibits an angle-dependent Langford coefficient such that the overall Langford coefficient of the surface portion is isotropic (i.e., substantially not angle-dependent or substantially uniform over angle). In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have an isotropic texture, wherein the isotropic texture comprises a plurality of texture components, wherein each texture component comprises less than 1 volume percent (vol.%) of the surface portion. In some aspects, the plurality of texture components comprises a surface texture component selected from the group consisting of: a cubic component, a goss component, a brass component, an S component, and a copper component.

In some cases, the aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein may have an isotropic surface texture described as a ratio between each texture component. In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to brass component (and likewise a ratio of brass component to cubic component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component to the brass component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the cubic component to the brass component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of the cubic component to the goss component (and likewise, a ratio of the goss component to the cubic component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of cubic component to goss component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic components to goss components can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to S component (and likewise, a ratio of S component to cubic component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component to the S component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the cube component to the S component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic composition to copper composition (and likewise, a ratio of copper composition to cubic composition) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component to the copper component of the surface portion can be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic components to copper components may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of the goss component to the brass component of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component (and likewise the ratio of the brass component to the goss component) of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of the goss component to the S component (and likewise, a ratio of the S component to the goss component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the goss component to the S component of the surface portion can be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the goss component to the S component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of the goss component to the copper component (and likewise, a ratio of the copper component to the goss component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the goss component to the copper component of the surface portion can be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the goss component to the copper component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of brass component to S component (and likewise, a ratio of S component to brass component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of brass component to S component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of brass component to S component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of brass component to copper component (likewise, a ratio of copper component to brass component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of brass component to copper component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the brass component to the copper component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of S component to copper component (and likewise, a ratio of copper component to S component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the S component to the copper component of the surface portion can be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the S component to the copper component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component (or any suitable ratio including cubic component, goss component, and brass component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component to the goss component to the brass component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to goss component to S component (or any suitable ratio including cubic component, goss component, and S component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component of the surface portion to the goss component to the S component may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic component to goss component to S component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to goss component to copper component (or any suitable ratio including cubic component, goss component, and copper component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component of the surface portion to the goss component to the copper component may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic component to goss component to copper component can be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component (or any suitable ratio including the goss component, the brass component, and the S component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the copper component (or any suitable ratio including the goss component, the brass component, and the copper component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the copper component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the copper component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of brass component to S component to copper component (or any suitable ratio including brass component, S component, and copper component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of brass component to S component to copper component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of brass component to S component to copper component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component (or any suitable ratio including cubic component, goss component, brass component, and S component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component of the surface portion to the brass component to the S component may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the cubic component to the goss component to the brass component to the S component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to copper component (or any suitable ratio including cubic component, goss component, brass component, and copper component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component of the surface portion to the brass component to the copper component may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to copper component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of goss component to brass component to S component to copper component (or any suitable ratio including goss component, brass component, S component, and copper component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component to the copper component of the surface portion may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component to the copper component may be less than 1.00.

In some non-limiting examples, the surface portion can have a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component to copper component (or any suitable ratio including cubic component, goss component, brass component, S component, and copper component) of 0.80 to 1.25. For example, the ratio of the cubic component of the surface portion to the brass component to the S component to the copper component may be 0.80, 0.81, 0.82, 0.83, 0.84, 0.85, 0.86, 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, 0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 0.95, 0.96, 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, 1.00, 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, or 1.25. In some examples, the ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component to copper component may be less than 1.00.

In some aspects, an aluminum alloy article can provide an aluminum alloy having isotropic mechanical properties in any direction relative to a rolling direction of the aluminum alloy article, the aluminum alloy article having a portion with a low volume fraction (between 0% and 1% volume fraction) of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components, or substantially no recrystallized texture (e.g., an isotropic textured or untextured surface) in any direction (e.g., longitudinal, transverse, or diagonal) relative to the rolling direction of the aluminum alloy article. For example, an aluminum alloy article having isotropic mechanical properties may be provided in an aluminum alloy article that does not exhibit anisotropic forming, e.g., in a diagonal direction, while exhibiting isotropic forming in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction.

In some examples, the comparative aluminum alloy article may correspond to an aluminum alloy article that may be direct chill cast from a molten aluminum alloy to form an aluminum alloy ingot. The aluminum alloy ingot may then be homogenized and hot rolled to an intermediate gauge aluminum alloy sheet. The intermediate gauge aluminum alloy sheet may optionally be further cold rolled into a final gauge aluminum alloy article. The comparative aluminum alloy articles can have a plurality of surface portions having a predominant texture component. For example, the first surface portion may be dominated by cubic texture and the at least second surface portion may be dominated by goss texture components. Thus, a diagonal direction relative to the rolling direction of the comparative aluminum alloy article may have an anisotropic recrystallization texture, wherein the first surface portion may be dominated by a cubic texture and at least the second surface portion may be dominated by a goss texture component. A small amount of thinning in the diagonal direction during rolling may be induced by splitting the surface portion in the diagonal direction relative to the rolling direction during forming (e.g., pulling the first surface portion away from at least the second surface portion). Exemplary aluminum alloy articles produced according to the methods described below can have isotropic surface texture in any direction relative to the rolling direction and provide uniform thinning in any direction relative to the rolling direction.

Aluminum alloy rolled product specification and composition

In some non-limiting examples, as described above, the aluminum alloy rolled article may be produced in plate, sheet, or sheet format. In some aspects, the aluminum alloy rolled article can be produced from a molten aluminum alloy. The molten aluminum alloy may be a5xxx series aluminum alloy or a6xxx series aluminum alloy.

Non-limiting example AA5 xxx-series aluminum alloys include AA5005, AA A, AA5205, AA5305, AA5505, AA5605, AA5006, AA5106, AA5010, AA5110A, AA5210, AA5310, AA5016, AA5017, AA5018A, AA5019, AA5119, AA 51A, AA5021, AA5022, AA5023, AA5024, AA5026, AA5027, AA5028, AA5040, AA5140, AA5041, AA5042, AA5043, AA5049, AA5149, AA5249, AA5349, AA5449, AA 54A, AA5050, AA 505A, AA5050C, AA5150, AA 1, AA521, AA5251, AA 524654, AA 52515554, AA 5155515554, AA 515554, AA 52515554, AA 515554, AA 50583, AA 515554, AA 52515554, AA 515554, AA 52515554, AA 51555 AA 515554, AA 515554 and AA 515554.

Non-limiting exemplary AA6 xxx-series aluminum alloys include AA6101, AA6101A, AA6101B, AA6201A, AA6401, AA6501, AA6002, AA6003, AA6103, AA6005A, AA6005B, AA6005C, AA6105, AA6205, AA6305, AA6006, AA6106, AA6206, AA6306, AA6008, AA6009, AA6010, AA6110A, AA611, AA6111, AA6012A, AA6013, AA6113, AA 634, AA6015, AA6016, 601A, AA6116, 6018, AA 6029, AA6020, AA6021, AA6022, AA6023, AA6024, AA6025, AA6026, AA 60160606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060.

Manufacturing method

An exemplary aluminum alloy rolled article may be formed by a process comprising: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and hot rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form an aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness of no greater than 7mm, such as between 0.01mm and 7mm, between 0.01mm and 6mm, between 0.01mm and 5mm, between 0.01mm and 4mm, between 0.01mm and 3mm, or between 0.01mm and 2 mm. The rolling may be carried out at a temperature of not less than 300 ℃. An exemplary aluminum alloy rolled article may be formed by a process that does not include cold rolling. Optionally, the example aluminum alloy rolled article may be subjected to quenching after rolling. FIG. 1 provides a schematic example of a method and system for making an aluminum alloy rolled product. In an embodiment, fig. 1 provides an overview of a process called hot rolling to final gauge and tempering.

Continuous casting

The aluminum alloy products described herein may be cast using a Continuous Casting (CC) process. The continuous casting process may be performed, for example, by using a twin belt caster, a twin roll caster, or a block caster.

As shown in fig. 1, in some examples, a method of making an aluminum alloy rolled article includes providing a molten aluminum alloy 105 and continuously injecting molten metal from a molten metal injector into a continuous casting machine 110 to form an aluminum alloy cast product 115. The method may further comprise withdrawing the aluminum alloy cast product, such as a cast aluminum alloy sheet, plate or sheet, from the outlet of the continuous caster.

Rolling of

The aluminum alloy cast product 115 may then be processed by any suitable means. Optionally, the processing step can be used to prepare an aluminum alloy rolled article. Such processing steps include, but are not limited to, homogenization, which may be performed at block 120, as shown in FIG. 1, and hot rolling, which may be performed at section 125, as shown in FIG. 1. In some non-limiting examples, a continuously cast aluminum alloy product (such as a6xxx series aluminum alloy or a5xxx series aluminum alloy) may be hot rolled to final gauge, as explained in more detail below. The working may be performed without a cold rolling step (i.e., the cast product may be rolled to final gauge without cold rolling). In some cases, hot rolling a continuously cast aluminum alloy product to final gauge can provide an isotropic recrystallization texture within the surface of the aluminum alloy rolled article formed thereby. In some additional cases, hot rolling a continuously cast aluminum alloy product to final gauge may improve formability by providing an aluminum alloy rolled product with isotropic mechanical properties.

Optionally, homogenization may be performed immediately after casting. Optionally, the temperature of the aluminum alloy cast product 115 is not allowed to drop below 400 ℃ between casting and homogenization. The homogenization temperature may be, for example, between 400 ℃ and 600 ℃. In some examples, homogenization may be used to maintain the temperature of the cast alloy at a particular value or between ranges of values for a period of time, such as, in some examples, at most 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 hours. In some examples, homogenization may be used to provide the cast alloy to the hot rolling stage at a particular starting temperature. After performing homogenization at block 120, the aluminum alloy cast product 115 may be referred to as a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product.

Optionally, the hot rolling step may be performed immediately after casting or after homogenization. The hot rolling temperature may be at least 300 ℃, such as between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃. For example, the hot rolling temperature may be at least 300 ℃, at least 310 ℃, at least 320 ℃, at least 330 ℃, at least 340 ℃, at least 350 ℃, at least 360 ℃, at least 370 ℃, at least 380 ℃, at least 390 ℃, at least 400 ℃, at least 410 ℃, at least 420 ℃, at least 430 ℃, at least 440 ℃, at least 450 ℃, at least 460 ℃, at least 470 ℃, at least 480 ℃, at least 490 ℃, at least 500 ℃, at least 510 ℃, at least 520 ℃, at least 530 ℃, at least 540 ℃ or at most 550 ℃. Optionally, the hot rolling temperature may be or include a recrystallization temperature of the aluminum alloy. The temperature of the homogenized aluminium alloy cast product or the aluminium alloy cast product entering the hot rolling stage may be between 400 ℃ and 550 ℃ for example.

During the hot rolling step, the thickness of the aluminum alloy cast product is reduced. In some cases, the total amount of thickness reduction during hot rolling may be or less than 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, or 15%. In some cases, the cast product may be a metal sheet, wherein the final gauge of the rolled article is 7mm or less, 6mm or less, 5mm or less, 4mm or less, 3mm or less, 2mm or less, 1.9mm or less, 1.8mm or less, 1.7mm or less, 1.6mm or less, 1.5mm or less, 1.4mm or less, 1.3mm or less, 1.2mm or less, 1.1mm, 1.0mm or less, 0.9mm or less, 0.8mm or less, 0.7mm or less, 0.6mm or less, 0.5mm or less, 0.4mm or less, 0.3mm or less, 0.2mm or less, or as little as 0.1 mm. After exiting the hot rolling stage, the temperature of the aluminum alloy rolled product may be, for example, between 300 ℃ and 500 ℃.

Optional processing steps

The method may optionally include the step of quenching the aluminum alloy rolled article after hot rolling, as shown at element 130 of fig. 1. The aluminum alloy rolled product may be cooled in a quenching step to a temperature at or below about 300 ℃, such as to a temperature between 50 ℃ and 300 ℃. For example, an aluminum alloy rolled product may be cooled to at or below 290 ℃, at or below 280 ℃, at or below 270 ℃, at or below 260 ℃, at or below 250 ℃, at or below 240 ℃, at or below 230 ℃, at or below 220 ℃, at or below 210 ℃, at or below 200 ℃, at or below 190 ℃, at or below 180 ℃, at or below 170 ℃, at or below 160 ℃, at or below 150 ℃, at or below 140 ℃, at or below 130 ℃, at or below 120 ℃, at or below 110 ℃, or at or below 100 ℃. The aluminum alloy rolled article may be quenched immediately after hot rolling or within a short period of time thereafter (e.g., within a short time period of 10 hours or less, 9 hours or less, 8 hours or less, 7 hours or less, 6 hours or less, 5 hours or less, 4 hours or less, 3 hours or less, 2 hours or less, 1 hour or less, or 30 minutes or less). The aluminum alloy rolled product may optionally be coiled and stored after hot rolling and/or quenching, as shown at element 135 of fig. 1.

Application method

Automobile and transport

Aluminum alloy articles of manufacture produced from the aluminum alloy rolled articles (e.g., sheets and plates) described herein are useful in automotive applications and other transportation applications, including aircraft and railroad applications. For example, aluminum alloy rolled products can be used to make automotive structural components, such as exterior panels, interior panels, side panels, bumpers, side sills, roof beams, cross beams, pillar reinforcements (e.g., a-pillars, B-pillars, and C-pillars), inner covers, outer covers, or trunk lids. The aluminum alloy rolled articles and methods described herein may also be used in aircraft or railway vehicle applications to make, for example, exterior and interior panels.

Electronic device

The aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein may also be used in electronic applications. For example, the aluminum alloy rolled articles and methods described herein can be used to prepare housings for electronic devices, including mobile phones and tablet computers. In some examples, aluminum alloy rolled articles can be used to make anodized quality sheets and materials.

Containing part

The aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein may be used in container applications, including aluminum can body blanks and can lid blanks.

Mechanical characteristics

The aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein can have surfaces with low volume fractions (e.g., between 0% and 1% volume fraction) of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components, or substantially no recrystallized texture. An aluminum alloy article having a surface of such properties (e.g., an isotropic surface) can provide an aluminum alloy article having isotropic mechanical properties (e.g., mechanical properties that can be uniform in any direction on the surface relative to the rolling direction of the aluminum alloy cast product). Aluminum alloy rolled products having isotropic mechanical properties can be subjected to forming processes requiring high formability. In some non-limiting examples, the aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein can be subjected to complex forming processes. In some further examples, the aluminum alloy rolled articles described herein may be subjected to a multi-step forming process.

Various advantages can be realized using the aluminum alloy cast products and aluminum alloy rolled products and methods of making aluminum alloy cast products and aluminum alloy rolled products described herein. For example, as described above, an aluminum alloy rolled article may exhibit advantageous mechanical properties, such as an isotropic surface. Additionally, the aluminum alloy rolled article may exhibit isotropic thinning characteristics when subjected to strain, meaning that the aluminum alloy rolled article may have a tendency to thin by approximately equal amounts in all directions during straining. This characteristic may provide a benefit in forming an article of manufacture using the aluminum alloy rolled article described herein.

For example, conventional cold rolled aluminum may exhibit mechanical anisotropy, meaning that the mechanical properties of the cold rolled aluminum are not uniform in different directions (e.g., rolling direction, transverse, diagonal, etc.). When cold rolled aluminum is subjected to forming or drawing to produce an article of manufacture, the material may have a tendency to thin by different amounts when subjected to strain in different directions. Depending on the shape and particular form of the article of manufacture, thinning may be more pronounced at certain locations than at others. When subjected to sufficient strain and thinning in directions in which the thinning tends to be much greater than in other directions (e.g., in diagonal directions), the article of manufacture may fracture, crack, or otherwise fail at these critical points or in these critical directions.

The presently described aluminum alloy cast products and aluminum alloy rolled products overcome these and other processing difficulties due to isotropic mechanical properties. By having a surface with a low volume fraction (e.g., between 0% and 1% volume fraction) or substantially no recrystallized texture of the cube, goss, brass, S, and copper texture components, the surface can exhibit isotropic mechanical properties (e.g., Langford coefficient (R value)) such that the use of the presently described aluminum alloy rolled articles to form an article does not result in the same failure along or at the critical directions described above.

The following examples will serve to further illustrate the invention without, however, constituting any limitation thereto. On the contrary, it is to be clearly understood that resort may be had to various embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Example A

Aluminum alloy samples were provided according to the methods described herein. Alloys 6111, 6451 and 5754 were produced by exemplary methods including continuous casting, homogenization and hot rolling to final gauge. Alloys 6451 and 5754 were further produced by optional methods for comparison, including continuous casting, homogenization, and cold rolling to final gauge. Alloys 6111, 6451 and 5754 were produced according to comparative methods including direct chill casting, homogenization, hot rolling and cold rolling. The aluminum alloy samples were analyzed for recrystallization texture. Fig. 1 is a bar graph showing the results of recrystallization texture analysis. The cube texture component (left histogram in each pair) and the brass texture component (right histogram in each pair) are shown for comparison. The texture component volume fractions (%) of the cube texture component and the brass texture component are shown. The continuously cast alloy is referred to herein as "CC" and the direct chill cast alloy is referred to herein as "DC". The processing method is described in table 1 below:

TABLE 1 processing methods

HRTGT	Hot rolling to final gauge and tempering
		HR+CR	Hot and cold rolling
CR	Cold rolling
		HR	Hot rolling

As shown in fig. 1, hot rolling to final gauge and tempering indicate the exemplary methods described herein, including continuous casting, homogenization, and hot rolling to final gauge. As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 4 and described below, the example method provides an aluminum alloy rolled article having a uniformly distributed texture component. The comparative method provides an aluminum alloy rolled article having an anisotropic recrystallization texture, wherein the surface is dominated by a cubic texture. Isotropic surface recrystallization texture is provided by the exemplary methods described herein.

Fig. 2, 3 and 4 are bar graphs showing the results of recrystallization texture analysis. Cubic texture components (left histogram in each group), goss texture components (second from left histogram in each group), brass texture components (center histogram in each group), S texture components (fourth from left histogram in each group), and copper texture components (right histogram in each group) are shown for comparison. As is apparent in fig. 2, 3, and 4, the example methods provide aluminum alloy rolled articles with a uniform distribution of texture components, wherein no texture component having a volume fraction of greater than 1% within the surface of the aluminum alloy is observed. The comparative method provides an aluminum alloy rolled article having an anisotropic recrystallization texture, wherein the surface is dominated by a cubic texture. Isotropic surface recrystallization texture is provided by the exemplary methods described herein.

Examples 1 to 61

As used below, any reference to a series of examples should be understood as a separate reference to each of these examples (e.g., "examples 1-4" should be understood as "example 1, example 2, example 3, or example 4").

Example 1 is an aluminum alloy rolled article comprising a rolled surface, wherein the rolled surface comprises a first surface portion, the aluminum alloy rolled article comprising at least a first surface portion, and wherein the first surface portion is substantially free of recrystallization texture, or wherein the first surface portion has a volume fraction of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components between 0% and 1%.

Example 2 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of example 1, wherein the first surface portion has an isotropic texture, wherein the isotropic texture comprises a plurality of texture components, wherein each texture component comprises less than 1 volume percent of the first surface portion.

Example 3 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of example 2, wherein the plurality of texture components comprises a surface texture component selected from the group consisting of: a cubic component, a goss component, a brass component, an S component, and a copper component.

Example 4 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-3, wherein the first surface portion exhibits substantially uniform thinning during forming across the first surface portion in any direction relative to a rolling direction.

Example 5 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-4, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to brass component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 6 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-5, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 7 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-6, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 8 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-7, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic composition to copper composition of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 9 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-8, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of the goss component to the brass component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 10 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-9, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of the goss component to the S component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 11 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-10, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of the goss component to the copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 12 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-11, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of brass component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 13 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-12, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of brass component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 14 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-13, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 15 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-14, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 16 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-15, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 17 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-16, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 18 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-17, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 19 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-18, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of a goss component to a brass component to a copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 20 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-19, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of brass component to S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 21 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-20, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 22 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-21, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 23 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-22, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of the goss component to the brass component to the S component to the copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 24 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-23, wherein the first surface portion has a ratio of cubic component to goss component to brass component to S component to copper component of 0.80 to 1.25.

Example 25 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-24, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article has a width or length of 6.5mm to 40 m.

Example 26 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-25, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article comprises or consists of a5xxx aluminum alloy.

Example 27 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-26, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article comprises or consists of a6xxx aluminum alloy.

Example 28 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-27, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article is formed by a process that does not include cold rolling.

Example 29 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-28, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article is formed by a process comprising: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form the aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness between 0.01mm and 7mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃.

Example 30 is a method for making an aluminum alloy rolled article, the method comprising: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form an aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness between 0.01mm and 7mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃.

Example 31 is the method of example 30, wherein homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a homogenization temperature of the aluminum alloy cast product after exit from a continuous caster, wherein the homogenization temperature is between 400 ℃ and 600 ℃.

Example 32 is the method of examples 30-31, wherein the aluminum alloy cast product is not cooled to less than 400 ℃ prior to the homogenizing.

Example 33 is the method of examples 30-32, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a rolling temperature during rolling, wherein a starting temperature of the rolling is between 400 ℃ and 550 ℃, and wherein an outlet temperature of the rolling is between 300 ℃ and 500 ℃.

Example 34 is the method of examples 30-33, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises maintaining the temperature at or above a recrystallization temperature of the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product.

Example 35 is the method of examples 30-34, further comprising, after the rolling, subjecting the aluminum alloy rolled article to quenching.

Example 36 is the method of examples 30-35, wherein the method does not comprise direct chill casting.

Example 37 is the method of examples 30-36, wherein the method does not comprise cold rolling the aluminum alloy rolled article to a final thickness.

Example 38 is the method of examples 30-37, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article comprises at least a first surface portion, and wherein the first surface portion is substantially free of recrystallization texture, or wherein the volume fraction of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components of the first surface portion is between 0% and 1%.

Example 39 is an aluminum alloy rolled article formed by a process comprising: providing a molten aluminum alloy composition; continuously casting the molten aluminum alloy composition to form an aluminum alloy cast product; homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product to form a homogenized aluminum alloy cast product; and rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product to form the aluminum alloy rolled product having a thickness between 0.01mm and 7mm, wherein the rolling is carried out at a temperature between 300 ℃ and 550 ℃.

Example 40 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of example 39, wherein homogenizing the aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a homogenization temperature of the aluminum alloy cast product after exit from a continuous caster, wherein the homogenization temperature is between 400 ℃ and 600 ℃.

Example 41 is the aluminum alloy rolled product of examples 39-40, wherein the aluminum alloy cast product is not cooled to less than 400 ℃ prior to the homogenizing.

Example 42 is the aluminum alloy rolled product of examples 39-41, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises controlling a rolling temperature during rolling, wherein a starting temperature of the rolling is between 400 ℃ and 550 ℃, and wherein an outlet temperature of the rolling is between 300 ℃ and 500 ℃.

Example 43 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 39-42, wherein rolling the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product comprises maintaining the temperature at or above a recrystallization temperature of the homogenized aluminum alloy cast product.

Example 44 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 39-43, wherein the process further comprises, after the rolling, subjecting the aluminum alloy rolled article to quenching.

Example 45 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 39-44, wherein the process does not include direct chill casting.

Example 46 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 39-45, wherein the process does not include cold rolling the aluminum alloy rolled article to a final thickness.

Example 47 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 39-46, comprising at least a first surface portion, and wherein the first surface portion is substantially free of recrystallization texture, or wherein the volume fraction of cubic texture components, goss texture components, brass texture components, S texture components, and copper texture components of the first surface portion is between 0% and 1%.

Example 48 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of example 47, wherein the first surface portion has an isotropic texture.

Example 49 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of example 48, wherein the isotropic texture comprises a plurality of texture components, and wherein each texture component comprises less than 1 vol% of the first surface portion.

Example 50 is the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 47-49, wherein the first surface portion exhibits substantially uniform thinning during forming across the first surface portion in any direction relative to a rolling direction.

Example 51 is an aluminum alloy article of manufacture comprising the aluminum alloy rolled article of examples 1-29, the aluminum alloy rolled article of any one of examples 39-50, or the aluminum alloy rolled article formed by the method of any one of examples 30-38.

Example 52 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of example 51, wherein the aluminum alloy rolled article is subjected to a stamping, forming, or drawing process.

Example 53 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of examples 51-52, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is an automotive body part.

Example 54 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of example 53, wherein the automotive body part comprises a structural part.

Example 55 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of example 53, wherein the automotive body part is an exterior panel.

Example 56 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of examples 51-52, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is an electronic device housing.

Example 57 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of examples 51-52, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is an aerospace body part.

Example 58 is the aluminum alloy article of examples 51-52, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is a transportation body part.

Example 59 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of examples 51-52, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is a container component.

Example 60 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of example 59, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is a storage box.

Example 61 is the aluminum alloy article of manufacture of example 59, wherein the aluminum alloy article of manufacture is an aluminum can lid.

All patents, publications, and abstracts cited above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The foregoing description of embodiments, including illustrated embodiments, has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description only and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.