Aluminium Alloy With Improved Crush Properties

Abstract

An Al—Mg—Si alloy with improved ductility and crush properties, in particular useful for structural components in crash exposed areas in vehicles. The alloy contains in wt %: Mg 0.25-1.2; Si 0.3-1.4; Ti 0.03-0.4, where Ti is present in solid solution and where the alloy contains in addition one or more of the following alloy components: Mn max 0.6; Cr max 0.3; Zr max 0.25, and incidental impurities, including Ee and Zn up to 0.5 with balance Al.

1 . An Al—Mg—Si alloy with good ductility and improved crush properties, in particular useful for structural components in crash exposed areas in vehicles, characterised in that
 the alloy contains in wt %:   Mg 0.25-1.2   Si 0.3-1.4   Ti 0.1-0.4, where Ti is present in solid solution and where the alloy contains in addition one or more of the following alloy components:   Mn max 0.6   Cr max 0.3   Zr max 0.25, and   incidental impurities, including Fe and Zn, up to 0.5 with balance Al.   
     
     
         2 . Alloy according to  claim 1 , characterised in that
 it contains in addition one or more of the following alloy components in wt %:   Cu max 0.4 preferably 0.3   V max 0.25   
     
     
         3 . Alloy according to  claim 1 , characterised in that
 the alloy contains by wt % between 0.1-0.3 Ti and preferably between 0.1-0.2 Ti.   
     
     
         4 . Alloy according to  claim 1 , characterised in that
 the composition of the alloy is defined within the following coordinate points of an Mg—Si diagram:   a1-a2-a3-a4-a1,   where in wt % a1=0.25Mg, 0.55Si, a2=0.50 Mg,1.0Si, a3=0.75Mg, 0.75Si and a4=0.45Mg, 0.40Si.   
     
     
         5 . Alloy according to  claim 4 , characterised in that
 the alloy is defined within the coordinate points b1-b2-b3-b4-b1, where in wt % b1=0.30 Mg, 0.60Si, b2=0.50 Mg, 0.90Si, b3=0.65Mg, 0.75Si and b4=0.45Mg, 0.50Si.   
     
     
         6 . Alloy according to  claim 5 , characterised in that
 more preferably the alloy is defined between the coordinate points c1-c2-c3-c4-c1, where in wt % c1=0.33Mg, 0.60Si, c2=0.47Mg, 0.80Si, c3=0.59Mg, 0.70Si and c4=0.45Mg, 0.52Si.   
     
     
         7 . Alloy according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the alloy contains by wt %   Mn 0.05-0.30   Cr max 0.05   Zr max 0.15   
     
     
         8 . Alloy according to  claim 1 , characterised in that
 the alloy is cast to billets and then homogenised.   
     
     
         9 . Alloy according to  claim 1 , characterised in that
 the alloy is reheated to a preferred temperature and then extruded.