Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg≦(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Zr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities. Preferably, the alloy contains about 6.9 to 8.5 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.7 wt. % Mg; 1.3 to 2 wt. % Cu. This alloy provides improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness in thick gauges. When artificially aged per the three stage method of preferred embodiments, this alloy also achieves superior SCC performance, including under seacoast conditions.

Aluminum alloy products having improved property combinations and method for artificially aging same

An alloy product having improved combinations of strength, density, toughness and corrosion resistance, said alloy product consisting essentially of about 7.6 to 8.4% zinc, about 1.8 to 2.2% magnesium, about 2 to 2.6% copper and at least one element selected from zirconium, vanadium and hafnium present in a total amount not exceeding about 0.5%, preferably about 0.05 to 0.25% zirconium, the balance aluminum and incidential elements and impurities. The alloy product, suitable for aerospace applications, exhibits high yield strength, at least about 10% greater yield strength than its 7X50-T6 counterpart, with good toughness and corrosion resistance properties typically comparable to or better than those of its 7X50-T76 counterpart. Upper wing members made from this alloy typically have a yield strength over 84 ksi, good fracture toughness and an EXCO exfoliation resistance level of "EC" or better, typically "EB".

Aluminum alloy product having improved combinations of properties

Disclosed is a method of producing a forged and rolled Al-Zn-Cu-Mg alloy plate product having improved fatigue properties in the long transverse direction. The method comprises providing a body of an Al-Zn-Cu-Mg alloy, working said body by a forging operation to reduce its thickness in a C direction by at least 30% and rolling or working the forged body to provide a forged and rolled plate product having improved fatigue properties in the long transverse direction.

Aluminum alloy thick plate product and method

The present invention provides a casting having increased crashworthiness including an an aluminum alloy of about 6.0 wt % to about 8.0 wt % Si; about 0.12 wt % to about 0.25 wt % Mg; less than or equal to about 0.35 wt % Cu; less than or equal to about 4.0 wt % Zn; less than or equal to about 0.6 wt % Mn; and less than or equal to about 0.15 wt % Fe, wherein the cast body is treated to a T5 or T6 temper and has a tensile strength ranging from 100 MPa to 180 MPa and has a critical fracture strain greater than 10%. The present invention further provides a method of forming a casting having increased crashworthiness.

A HIGH CRASHWORTHINESS AL-SI-Mg ALLOY AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING AUTOMOTIVE CASTING

There is disclosed a method for producing an aluminum alloy product and the resulting product having improved combinations of strength and corrosion resistance. The method includes providing an alloy consisting essentially of about 6-16% zinc, about 1.5-4.5% magnesium, about 1-3% cooper, one or more elements selected from zirconium, chromium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and hafnium, the total of said elements not exceeding about 1%, the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is then solution heat treated; precipitation hardened to increase its strength to a level exceeding the as-solution heat treated strength level by at least about 30% of the difference between as-solution heat treated strength and peak strength; subjected to treatment at a sufficient temperature or temperatures for improving its corrosion resistance properties; and again precipitation hardened to raise its yield strength and produce a high strength, highly corrosion resistant alloy product.

Aluminum alloy product having improved combinations of strength and corrosion resistance properties and method for producing the same

An aluminum base alloy containing zinc, copper and magnesium together with manganese and with specially controlled composition limits exhibits very high strength when thermally treated to a condition having high resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Improved products of the alloy also exhibit low quench sensitivity and, accordingly, high strength even in very thick sections. A special aging treatment produces the optimum combination of strength and resistance to stress corrosion cracking properties.

Hunsicker H

Papers

Aluminum alloy product and method of making