High strength forged aluminum alloy products
View Patent ↗High strength forged aluminum alloys and methods for producing the same are disclosed. The forged aluminum alloy products may have grains having a high aspect ratio in at least two planes, generally the L-ST and the LT-ST planes. The forged aluminum alloy products may also have a high amount of texture. The forged products may realize increased strength relative to conventionally prepared forged products of comparable product form, composition and temper.
1. A forged product, wherein the forged product comprises a 7xxx aluminum alloy, wherein the forged product comprises a crystalline microstructure having grains, wherein the grains include first type grains and second type grains, wherein the crystalline microstructure comprises from 5 vol. % to 50 vol. % of the first type grains, wherein the first type grains include representative first grains;
wherein the representative first grains make up 60-90 vol. % of the first type grains;
wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of from 5:1 to 20:1 in the LT-ST plane;
wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of from 6:1 to 30:1 in the L-ST plane;
wherein at least portions of the forged product have a sectional thickness of at least 1 inch; and
wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 72 ksi.
2. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the product has a maximum ODF intensity of at least 60.
3. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least 9:1 in the L-ST plane.
4. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product consists of a 7x55 aluminum alloy.
5. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 74 ksi.
6. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 78 ksi.
7. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 80 ksi.
8. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 82 ksi.
9. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 84 ksi.
10. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 86 ksi.
11. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 88 ksi.
12. The forged product of claim 1 , wherein the forged product realizes a longitudinal tensile yield strength of at least 90 ksi.
13. The forged product of claim 5 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 76 ksi.
14. The forged product of claim 6 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 78 ksi.
15. The forged product of claim 7 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 80 ksi.
16. The forged product of claim 8 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 82 ksi.
17. The forged product of claim 9 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 84 ksi.
18. The forged product of claim 10 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 86 ksi.
19. The forged product of claim 11 , wherein the forged product realizes a long transverse (LT) tensile yield strength of at least 88 ksi.
20. The forged product of claim 19 , wherein the strength properties are realized at a sectional thickness of at least 1 inch of the forged product.
21. The forged product of claim 17 , wherein at least portions of the forged product have a sectional thickness of at least 2 inches, and wherein the strength properties are realized at the sectional thickness of at least 2 inches of the forged product.
22. The forged product of claim 15 , wherein at least portions of the forged product have a sectional thickness of at least 3 inches, and wherein the strength properties are realized at the sectional thickness of at least 3 inches of the forged product.
23. The forged product of claim 13 , wherein at least portions of the forged product have a sectional thickness of at least 4 inches, and wherein the strength properties are realized at the sectional thickness of at least 4 inches of the forged product.