ALUMINUM-LITHIUM ALLOYS, AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
New Al—Li alloy bodies and methods of producing the same are disclosed. The new Al—Li alloy bodies may be produced by preparing the aluminum alloy body for post-solutionizing cold work, cold working by at least 25%, and then thermally treating. The new Al—Li alloy bodies may realize improved strength and other properties.
1 . A method comprising:
(a) preparing an aluminum alloy body for post-solutionizing cold work, wherein the aluminum alloy body includes an aluminum alloy having 0.25 to 5.0 wt. % lithium;
(i) wherein the preparing step comprises solutionizing of the aluminum alloy body;
(b) after the preparing step (a), cold working the aluminum alloy body by at least 25%; and
(c) after the cold working step (b), thermally treating the aluminum alloy body;
wherein the cold working and the thermally treating steps are accomplished to achieve an increase in long-transverse tensile yield strength as compared to a reference-version of the aluminum alloy body in the as cold-worked condition.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparing step (a) comprises:
casting the aluminum alloy body via a semi-continuous casting process.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the preparing step (a) comprises:
homogenizing the aluminum alloy body; and
hot working the aluminum alloy body;
wherein the solutionizing step (a)(i) occurs after the hot working step.
4 . (canceled)
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the preparing step (a) comprises:
continuously casting the aluminum alloy body.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the preparing step (a) comprises:
concomitant to the continuously casting step, completing the solutionizing step (a)(i).
7 - 9 . (canceled)
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solutionizing step (a)(i) comprises quenching the aluminum alloy body, and wherein the quenching occurs in the absence of deformation of the aluminum alloy body.
11 . The method of claim 1 , comprising forming the aluminum alloy body into a shape during the thermal treatment step (c).
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein no purposeful thermal heating treatments are applied to the aluminum alloy body between the solutionizing step (a)(i), and the cold working step (b).
13 - 14 . (canceled)
15 . The method of claim 1 or PI, wherein the cold working step (b) occurs in the absence of purposeful heating of the aluminum alloy body.
16 . (canceled)
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cold working step (b) comprises reducing the aluminum alloy body to its substantially final form.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cold working step (b) comprises cold rolling the aluminum alloy body to final gauge.
19 . (canceled)
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the cold working step (b) comprises cold working the aluminum alloy body from 35% to 90%.
21 . (canceled)
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermally treating step (c) comprises maintaining the aluminum alloy body below its recrystallization temperature.
23 . (canceled)
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the cold rolling step (b) and the thermally treating step (c) are performed such that the aluminum alloy body realizes a predominately unrecrystallized microstructure.
25 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . An aluminum alloy body comprising 0.25 to 5.0 wt. % lithium, wherein the aluminum alloy body realizes at least 5% higher tensile yield strength over a referenced aluminum alloy body;
wherein the referenced aluminum alloy body has the same composition as the aluminum alloy body;
wherein the referenced aluminum alloy body is processed to a T87 temper; and
wherein the referenced aluminum alloy body has a tensile yield strength that is within 1 ksi of its peak tensile yield strength.
28 - 29 . (canceled)
30 . The aluminum alloy body of claim 27 , wherein the aluminum alloy body realizes an elongation of more than 4%.
31 . (canceled)
32 . The aluminum alloy body of claim 27 , wherein the aluminum alloy body realizes a normalized R-value of at least 2.0.
33 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . The aluminum alloy body of claim 27 , wherein the aluminum alloy body is predominately unrecrystallized.
36 . The aluminum alloy body of claim 35 , wherein the aluminum alloy body is at least 75% unrecrystallized.
37 . A method comprising:
(a) solutionizing an aluminum alloy body, wherein the aluminum alloy body includes an aluminum alloy having 0.25-5.0 wt. % lithium;
(b) after the solutionizing step (a), cold working the aluminum alloy body by at least 25%;
(i) wherein, after the cold working step (b), the aluminum alloy body is in its substantially final form; and
(c) after the cold working step (b), thermally treating the aluminum alloy body.