Secondary processing of structures derived from AL-RE-TM alloys

Abstract

A method for processing a metal part includes extruding an Al-RE-TM alloy to form an extruded part, heating the extruded part, and applying a compressive strain greater than about 50% on the heated part.

1 . A method for processing a metal part, the method comprising:
 extruding a Al-RE-TM alloy to form an extruded part having an extrusion axis;   heating the extruded part to a temperature above a crystallization temperature of the Al-RE-TM alloy; and   applying a compressive strain greater than about 50% on the heated part.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressive strain is applied in a direction that is substantially parallel to the extrusion axis. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature that the extruded part is heated to ranges from about 300° C. to about 450° C. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature that the extruded part is heated to is in a range from about 350° C. to about 400° C. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressive strain is applied with a strain rate ranging from about 0.0001 seconds −1  to about 1,000 seconds −1 . 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applied compressive strain ranges from about 70% to about 90%. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal part has a tensile strength that is at least 90% of a tensile strength of the extruded part, wherein the tensile strength is measured pursuant to ASTM E8-04. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Al-RE-TM alloy comprises an Al—Y—Ni—Co alloy. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a finished metal part after the heating and applying steps.   
   
   
       10 . A method for processing a metal part, the method comprising:
 extruding a Al-RE-TM alloy to form an extruded part, wherein the extruded part has an extrusion axis;   heating the extruded part to a temperature ranging from about 300° C. to about 450° C.; and   applying a compressive strain on the heated metal part to provide a ductility increase of at least about 5% relative to a ductility of the extruded part, wherein the ductility is measured pursuant to ASTM E8-04.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the compressive strain is applied in a direction that is substantially parallel to the extrusion axis. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature that the extruded metal part is heated to is in a range from about 350° C. to about 400° C. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the compressive strain is applied with a strain rate ranging from about 0.0001 seconds −1  to about 1,000 seconds −1 . 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the applied compressive strain provides a ductility increase of at least about 10% relative to the ductility of the extruded part. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the Al-RE-TM alloy comprises an Al—Y—Ni—Co alloy. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 creating a finished metal part after the heating and applying steps.   
   
   
       17 . A method for processing a metal part, the method comprising:
 extruding a Al-RE-TM alloy to form an extruded part, wherein the extruded part has an extrusion axis;   forging the extruded part at a temperature above a crystallization temperature of the Al-RE-TM alloy, and with a compressive strain greater than about 50% in a direction that is substantially parallel to the extrusion axis.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature that the extruded metal part is heated to ranges from about 300° C. to about 450° C. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature that the extruded metal part is heated to is in a range from about 350° C. to about 400° C. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the applied compressive strain ranges from about 70% to about 90%. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the compressive strain is applied with a strain rate ranging from about 0.0001 seconds −1  to about 1,000 seconds −1 . 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the Al-RE-TM alloy comprises an Al—Y—Ni—Co alloy.