Aluminum alloy excellent in cutting ability, aluminum alloy materials and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A first aluminum alloy of the present invention comprises Mg: 0.3-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-10 mass %, Zn: 0.05-1 mass %, Sr: 0.001-0.3 mass % and the balance being Al and impurities. A second aluminum alloy further contains one or more selective additional elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zr, Ti, Na and Ca. Furthermore, a third aluminum alloy comprises Mg: 0.1-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-12.5 mass %, Cu: 0.01 mass % or more but less than 1 mass %, Zn: 0.01-3 mass %, Sr:0.001-0.5 mass % and the balance being Al and impurities. Furthermore, a fourth aluminum alloy further includes one or more optional additional elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, B, C, Fe, Cr, Mn, Zr, V, Sc, Ni, Na, Sb, Ca, Sn, Bi and In.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material, the method comprising: 
 making a billet at a casting rate of 10-180 mm/min., the billet composed of aluminum alloy comprising Mg: 0.3-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-10 mass %, Zn: 0.05-1 mass %, Sr: 0.001-0.3 mass %, and the balance being aluminum and impurities;    homogenizing the billet at 400-570° C. for 6 hours or more to obtain a homogenized billet;    extruding the homogenized billet at a billet temperature of 300-550° C., an extrusion rate of 0.5-100 m/min. and an extrusion ratio of 10-200 into an extruded article having a predetermined configuration;    executing a solution treatment to the extruded article at 400-570° C. for 1 hour or more; and    aging the solution treated extruded article at 90-300° C. for 1-30 hours.    
   
   
       32 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the casting rate is 30-130 mm/min.  
   
   
       33 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the homogenization is performed at 500-545° C. for 10 hours or more.  
   
   
       34 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the extrusion is performed at the billet temperature of 350-500° C., the extrusion rate of 2-30 m/min. and the extrusion ratio of 20-85.  
   
   
       35 . The method four manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the solution treatment is performed at 500-545° C. for 3 hours or more.  
   
   
       36 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the aging is performed at 140-200° C. for 3-20 hours.  
   
   
       37 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the solution treated extruded article is drawn at a reduction rate of 5-30% into a predetermined configuration, and thereafter the aging is performed.  
   
   
       38 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the reduction rate of the drawing is 10-20%.  
   
   
       39 . A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material, comprising: 
 making a billet at a casting rate of 10-180 mm/min., the billet composed of aluminum alloy comprising Mg: 0.3-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-10 mass %, Zn: 0.05-1 mass %. Sr: 0.001-0.3 mass %, one or more selective additional elements selected from the group consisting of Cu: 0.01 mass % or more but less than 1 mass %, Fe; 0.01-1 mass %, Mn: 0.01-1 mass %, Cr: 0.01-1 mass %, Zr: 0.01-1 mass %, Ti: 0.01-1 mass %, Na: 0.001-0.5 mass % and Ca: 0.001-0.5 mass %, and the balance being aluminum and impurities;    homogenizing the billet at 400-570° C. for 6 hours or more to obtain a homogenized billet;    extruding the homogenized billet at a billet temperature of 300-550° C., an extrusion rate of 0.5-100 m/min., and an extrusion ratio of 10-200 into an extruded article having a predetermined configuration;    executing a solution treatment to the extruded article at 400-570° C. for 1 hour or more; and    aging the solution treated extruded article at 90-300° C. for 1-30 hours.    
   
   
       40 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the casting rate is 30-130 mm/min.  
   
   
       41 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the homogenization is performed at 500-545° C. for 10 hours or more.  
   
   
       42 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the extrusion is performed at the billet temperature of 350-500° C., the extrusion rate of 2-30 m/min. and the extrusion ratio of 20-85.  
   
   
       43 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material s recited in  claim 39 , wherein the solution treatment is performed at 500-545° C. for 3 hours or more.  
   
   
       44 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the aging is performed at 140-200° C. for 3-20 hours.  
   
   
       45 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the solution treated extruded article is drawn at a reduction rate of 5-30% into a predetermined configuration, and thereafter the aging is performed.  
   
   
       46 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the reduction rate of the drawing is 10-20%.  
   
   
       47 - 97 . (canceled)  
   
   
       98 . A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material, the method comprising: 
 continuously casting molten aluminum alloy to obtain a shape member having a prescribed crass section at a casting rate of 30-5000 mm/min. and a cooling rate of 10-600° C./sec., the molten aluminum alloy comprising Mg: 0.1-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-12.5 mass %, Cu: 0.01 mass % or more but less than 1 mass %, Zn: 0.01-3 mass %, Sr: 0.001-0.5 mass % and the balance being aluminum and impurities and held at the solidus temperature or more; thereafter    aging the shape member at 100-300° C. for 0.5-100 hours.    
   
   
       99 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , wherein the casting rate is 100-2000 mm/min.  
   
   
       100 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , wherein the cooling rate is 30-300° C./sec.  
   
   
       101 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , wherein the aging is performed at 120-220° C. for 1-30 hours.  
   
   
       102 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , wherein the shape member is a non-hollow member.  
   
   
       103 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , wherein the shape member circumscribes to a circle with a diameter of 10-150 mm in cross section.  
   
   
       104 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , further comprising a step of eliminating a surface layer portion of 0.1-10 mm depth from the continuously cast shape member.  
   
   
       105 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 104 , wherein the eliminated surface layer portion is 0.2-5 mm in depth.  
   
   
       106 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 98 , further comprising the step of performing a secondary forming processing of a cross-sectional area decreasing ratio of 30% or less to the shape member after the continuous casting at a temperature of 400° C. or below.  
   
   
       107 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 106 , wherein the processing temperature is 250° C. or below.  
   
   
       108 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 106 , wherein the cross-sectional area decreasing ratio is 20% or less.  
   
   
       109 . A method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material, the method comprising: 
 continuously casting molten aluminum alloy to obtain a shape member having a prescribed cross section at a casting rate of 30-5,000 mm/min. and a cooling rate of 10-600° C./sec., the molten aluminum alloy comprising Mg: 0.1-6 mass %, Si: 0.3-12.5 mass %, Cu: 0.01 mass % or more but less than 1 mass %, Zn: 0.01-3 mass %, Sr: 0.001-0.5 mass %, one or more of selective additional elements selected from the group consisting of Ti: 0.001-1 mass %, B: 0.0001-0.03 mass %, C, 0.0001-0.5 mass %, Fe: 0.01-1 mass %; Cr: 0.01-1 mass %, Mn: 0.01-1 mass %, Zr: 0.01-1 mass %, V: 0.01-1 mass %, Sc: 0.0001-0.5 mass %, Ni: 0.005-1 mass %, Na: 0.001-0.5 mass %, Sb: 0.001-0.5 mass %, Ca: 0.001-0.5 mass %, Sn: 0.01-1 mass %, Bi: 0.01-1 mass %, In: 0.001-0.5 mass %, and the balance being aluminum and impurities and held at the solidus temperature or more; thereafter aging the shape member at 100-300° C. for 0.5-100 hours.    
   
   
       110 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , wherein the casting rate is 100-2,000 mm/min.  
   
   
       111 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , wherein the cooling rate is 30-300° C./sec.  
   
   
       112 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , wherein the aging is performed at 120-220° C. for 1-30 hours.  
   
   
       113 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , wherein the shape member is a non-hollow member.  
   
   
       114 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , wherein the shape member circumscribes to a circle with a diameter of 10-150 mm in cross section.  
   
   
       115 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , further comprising a step of eliminating a surface layer portion of 0.1-10 mm depth from the continuously cast shape member.  
   
   
       116 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 115 , wherein the eliminated surface layer portion is 0.2-5 mm in depth.  
   
   
       117 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 109 , further comprising the step of performing a secondary forming processing of a cross-sectional area decreasing ratio of 30% or less to the shape member after the continuous casting at a temperature of 400° C. or below.  
   
   
       118 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 117 , wherein the processing temperature is 250° C. or below.  
   
   
       119 . The method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy material as recited in  claim 117 , wherein the cross-sectional area decreasing ratio is 20% or less.