Production of formed automotive structural parts from AA7XXX-series aluminium alloys

1. A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally formed aluminium alloy automotive structural part or a body-in-white (BIW) part of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a rolled aluminium alloy bare or composite sheet product having a gauge in a range of about 0.5 mm to 4 mm, wherein the sheet product comprises at least one layer made from an aluminium alloy of the AA7xxx-series, the sheet product having been subjected to solution heat treatment and quenching followed by a period of natural ageing of at least 1 day to result in a T4 temper condition;

subjecting the naturally aged sheet product to a reversion annealing treatment comprising heating the naturally aged sheet product at a fast heating rate of between 20° C. to 60° C. per second to reach a reversion annealing temperature of between 170° C. and 220° C. which is held for 2 to 15 seconds wherein temperature during reversion annealing treatment does not exceed said reversion annealing temperature of between 170° C. and 220° C.;

then subjecting the heated reversion annealed sheet product to a forced cooling operation at a rate of 5° C.-50° C. per second; and

within 2 hours, from the reversion annealing treatment, forming the sheet product to obtain the three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part or body-in-white (BIW) part.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part is subjected to a paint bake cycle within 1 day of forming, and wherein said paint bake cycle results in a yield strength of at least about 300 MPa.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein between forming and the paint bake cycle, the three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part is subjected to a pre-ageing heat treatment at a temperature between 50° C. and 250° C. for between 1 minute and 5 hours.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heat treatment in the reversion annealing treatment is done by contact heating in which the sheet product is held between two hot plates, and wherein the forced cooling operation is done by contact cooling in which the sheet product is held between two cold plates.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said bare sheet or a core of the composite sheet is made out of an aluminium alloy having a composition consisting of, in wt. %,

Zn 3.8 to 8.2;

Mg 1.5 to 2.3;

Cu 0.6 to 2.4;

Zr 0.04 to 0.25;

optionally one or two elements selected from the group consisting of

Mn 0.05 to 0.5,

Cr 0.05 to 0.5,

Ti 0 to 0.15,

Fe 0 to 0.35, and

Si 0 to 0.25;

other elements (or unavoidable impurities) each <0.05 and total <0.2; and

balance aluminium.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet product is subjected to the reversion annealing treatment in between two forming steps.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet product is cut into blanks after the reversion annealing treatment and before forming.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rolled sheet product is a composite sheet product having a core layer made from an aluminium alloy of the AA7xxx-series, and a clad layer made from an AA6xxx-series alloy or a lean AA7xxx-series alloy.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said bare sheet or a core of the composite sheet is made out of an aluminium alloy having a composition consisting of, in wt. %,

Zn 3.8 to 8.2;

Mg 1.5 to 2.3;

Cu <0.45;

Zr 0.04 to 0.25;

optionally one or two elements selected from the group consisting of

Mn 0.05 to 0.5,

Cr 0.05 to 0.5,

Ti 0 to 0.15,

Fe 0 to 0.35, and

Si 0 to 0.25;

other elements (or unavoidable impurities) each <0.05 and total <0.2; and

balance aluminium.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part is subjected to a paint bake cycle within 1 day of forming, and wherein said paint bake cycle results in a yield strength of at least about 350 MPa.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensionally formed automotive structural part is subjected to a paint bake cycle within 1 day of forming, and wherein said paint bake cycle results in a yield strength of at least about 400 MPa.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rolled aluminium alloy bare or composite sheet product has a gauge in a range of about 1.0 mm to 3 mm, wherein the reversion annealing temperature to which the sheet product is heated during the reversion annealing treatment is in a range of greater than 175° C. to at most 180° C. and held for 6 to 8 seconds, wherein temperature during reversion annealing treatment does not exceed said reversion annealing temperature of greater than 175° C. to at most 180° C.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said bare sheet or a core of the composite sheet is made out of an aluminium alloy having a composition consisting of, in wt. %,

Zn 5.5 to 6.5;

Mg 1.5 to 2.1;

Cu <0.30 or Cu 1.2 to 2.4;

Zr 0.04 to 0.25;

optionally one or two elements selected from the group consisting of;

Mn 0.05 to 0.5,

Cr 0.05 to 0.5,

Ti 0 to 0.15,

Fe 0 to 0.35, and

Si 0 to 0.25;

other elements (or unavoidable impurities) each <0.05 and total <0.2; and

balance aluminium.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said bare sheet or a core of the composite sheet is made out of an aluminium alloy having a composition consisting of, in wt. %,

Zn 5.5 to 6.5;

Mg 1.9 to 2.1;

Zr 0.04 to 0.14;

optionally one or two elements selected from the group consisting of;

Mn 0.05 to 0.5,

Cr 0.05 to 0.5,

Ti 0 to 0.15,

Fe 0 to 0.15, and

Si 0 to 0.1;

other elements (or unavoidable impurities) each <0.05 and total <0.2; and

balance aluminium.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the sheet product is a composite sheet product having a core layer made from AA7081 aluminium alloy.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reversion annealing temperature to which the sheet product is heated during the reversion annealing treatment is between 175° C. and 190° C., wherein temperature during reversion annealing treatment does not exceed said reversion annealing temperature of between 175° C. and 190° C.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet product is a composite sheet product having a core layer made from an aluminium alloy of the AA7xxx-series, and a clad layer made from a AA7072 alloy.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said bare sheet or a core of the composite sheet is made out of an aluminium alloy having a composition consisting of, in wt. %,

Zn 5.0 to 7.0;

Mg 1.5 to 2.1;

Cu <0.30;

Zr 0.04 to 0.25;

optionally one or two elements selected from the group consisting of;

Mn 0.05 to 0.5,

Cr 0.05 to 0.5,

Ti 0 to 0.15,

Fe 0 to 0.35, and

Si 0 to 0.25;

other elements (or unavoidable impurities) each <0.05 and total <0.2; and

balance aluminium.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said bare sheet or a core of the composite sheet is made out of an aluminium alloy having a composition consisting of, in wt. %,

Zn 5.0 to 7.0;

Mg 1.5 to 2.1;

Cu 1.2 to 2.4;

Zr 0.04 to 0.25;

optionally one or two elements selected from the group consisting of;

Mn 0.05 to 0.5,

Cr 0.05 to 0.5,

Ti 0 to 0.15,

Fe 0 to 0.35, and

Si 0 to 0.25;

other elements (or unavoidable impurities) each <0.05 and total <0.2; and

balance aluminium.