IP Library Granted Patent US 12680767
Granted Patent B2
US 12680767 · App. 18/626,958 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle with an aluminum alloy and method of manufacture

Inventors: Matthias Gördeler (Stuttgart, DE); Alexander Wald (Sindelfingen, DE); Thomas Feldhege (Leinfelden-Echterdingen, DE)
Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
F28F21/084C22C21/06C22C21/14C22C21/16C22C21/18C22C30/02C22C30/06F28F21/089F28D2021/0091F28F2275/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680767
App. No.
18/626,958
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle is provided. The heat exchanger contains at least one element that contains aluminum. This element that contains aluminum has a core and at least one plating layer. The core is composed of a first aluminum alloy that contains approx. 0.5% to approx. 4% by weight Mn, and approx. 0.5% to approx. 4% by weight Mg. The at least one plating layer is composed of at least one other aluminum alloy.

Claims (22)

1 . A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, comprising

at least one element that contains aluminum,

wherein the at least one element that comprises aluminum has a core and at least one plating layer,

wherein the core comprises a first aluminum alloy,

wherein the first aluminum alloy comprises recycled aluminum,

wherein the first aluminum alloy comprises Chromium, Nickel, Gallium, Vanadium, and Titanium in an amount less than 0.05%,

wherein the first aluminum alloy comprises contains about 0.5% to about 4% by weight Mn, and about 0.5% to about 4% by weight Mg, and

wherein the at least one plating layer is composed of a second aluminum alloy that is different from the first.

2 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the core comprises the first aluminum alloy that contains 0 to 1.0% by weight Si, 0 to 1.0% by weight Fe, 0.05 to 0.8% by weight Cu, 0.5 to 2.0% by weight Mn, 0.5 to 2.0% by weight Mg, 0 to 1.0% by weight Zn, and less than 0.05% by weight other components.

3 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the core contains at least one second plating layer, wherein the at least one second plating layer is on a side of the core opposite the at least one plating layer.

4 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one plating layer and/or the at least one second plating layer contain 0.006 to 0.8% by weight Si, 0.006 to 0.8% by weight Fe, 0.003 to 0.20% by weight Cu, 0.002 to 0.30% by weight Mn, 0.006 to 0.30% by weight Mg, 0.006 to 1.5% by weight Zn, and less than 0.05% by weight other components.

5 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one element that contains aluminum is glued with an adhesive to at least one other component.

6 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the thickness (d 3 ) of the at least one plating layer and/or the thickness (d 4 ) of the at least one second plating layer is 5 to 20% of the overall thickness of the at least one element that contains aluminum.

7 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the recycled aluminum is present in a quantity greater than 50% in at least the core.

8 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the aluminum alloy used for the at least one plating layer and/or the at least one second plating layer is at least 10 mV more electron-negative than the aluminum alloy used for the core.

9 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the element that contains aluminum forms a sheet, fin, or tube, and wherein the sheet, fin, or tube further comprises corrugations, grooves, or notches.

10 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one plating layer and/or the at least one second plating layer are applied with rollers.

11 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the adhesive contains polyolefins, epoxy resins, or polyurethane, preferably polypropylene.

12 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one plating layer is attached to the side of the core exposed to air, and/or the at least one second plating layer is attached to the core on the side exposed to coolant.

13 . The heat exchanger for a motor vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first aluminum allow comprises 0 to 0.6% by weight Si, 0 to 0.8% by weight Fe, 0.05 to 0.25% by weight Cu, 0.8 to 1.4% by weight Mn, 0.8 to 1.3% by weight Mg, 0 to 0.25% by weight Zn, and less than 0.05% by weight other components.

14 . The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein the thickness (d 3 ) of the at least one plating layer and/or the thickness (d 4 ) of the at least one second plating layer is preferably 10 to 15% of the overall thickness of the at least one element that contains aluminum.

15 . The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein the portion of recycled aluminum in the at least one element that contains aluminum is more than 80%, at least in the core.