method for improved manufacturing of thick aluminium-copper rolled products

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a product comprising an AlCu alloy comprising (weight per cent): Cu: 3.8-5.5 Mg: 0.2-0.8 Mn: 0.2-0.6 Ag 0.2-0.5 Si<0.15 Fe<0.20 Zn<0.25 Cr<0.05 Zr<0.10, Ti<0.15 others <0.05, remainder aluminium. In an embodiment the method comprises naturally aging the product forming in at least one process, such as stretch forming, drawing, flow spinning, and/or bending and artificial aging at a temperature from 280 to 340° F. (138 to 171° C.) for a duration from 6 to 36 hours. The method is particularly useful to make armor products.

1 . A method for manufacturing a product comprising an AlCu alloy, said method comprising:
 a) casting an ingot comprising (weight percent):   Cu: 3.8-5.5 Mg: 0.2-0.8 Mn: 0.2-0.6 Ag 0.2-0.5 Si<0.15 Fe<0.20 Zn<0.25 Cr<0.05 Zr<0.10, Ti<0.15, others <0.05, remainder aluminum,   b) optionally homogenizing the ingot at a temperature from 890 to 1010° F. for 2 to 48 hrs, for a duration of 12 to 36 hrs,   c) hot working the ingot to a product with a thickness from 0.5 to 8 inches,   d) solution treating the product from 930 to 1010° F., for a duration from 5 min to 10 hr,   e) rapidly cooling the product,   f) optionally cold working the product by cold rolling and/or stretching,   g) naturally aging the product,   wherein said method is optionally conducted in the order a-g.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein a final temper of the product comprises T3, T351 T3511, T36, T38, T39 or F. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said cold working f) is done solely by cold rolling from 0.5 to 10%. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said cold working f) is done solely by stretching from 0.5 to 10%. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said cold working f) is done by a combination of cold rolling from 0.5 to 5% and stretching from 0.5 to 5%. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is further transformed by
 i) forming comprising at least one process optionally comprising stretch forming, drawing, flow spinning, and/or bending,   j) artificial aging at a temperature from 280 to 340° F. for a duration from 6 to 36 hours.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein a final temper after said artificial aging comprises T8, T83, T851, T8511, T86, T852, T87, or T89. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the Ti content is from 0.02 to 0.13 wt. %. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein Cu is present in an amount from 4.4 to 5.2 wt. %. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein Mg is present in an amount from 0.3 to 0.6 wt. %. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein Mn is present in an amount from 0.3 to 0.5 wt. %. 
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing a product comprising an AlCu alloy, said method comprising:
 a) casting an ingot comprising (weight percent):   Cu: 3.8-5.5 Mg: 0.2-0.8 Mn: 0.2-0.6 Ag 0.2-0.5 Si<0.15 Fe<0.20 Zn<0.25 Cr<0.05 Zr<0.10, Ti<0.15, at least one selected from Hf 0.1-1.0 wt. %, Sc 0.03-0.6 wt. % and V 0.05-0.15 wt. %, others <0.05, remainder aluminum,   b) optionally homogenizing the ingot at a temperature from 890 to 1010° F. for 2 to 48 hrs, for a duration of 12 to 36 hrs,   c) hot working the ingot to a product with a thickness from 0.5 to 8 inches,   d) solution treating the product from 930 to 1010° F., for a duration from 5 min to 10 hr,   e) rapidly cooling the product,   f) optionally cold working the product by cold rolling and/or stretching,   g) naturally aging the product,   wherein said method is optionally conducted in the order a-g, and wherein   wherein the product is further transformed by   i) forming comprising at least one process optionally comprising stretch forming, drawing, flow spinning, and/or bending,   j) artificial aging at a temperature from 280 to 340° F. for a duration from 6 to 36 hours.   
     
     
         13 . An aluminium alloy product obtained by a method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A product according to  claim 13 , wherein the product is a rolled product. 
     
     
         15 . A product according to  claim 13 , wherein the product is an extruded product. 
     
     
         16 . A product according to  claim 13 , wherein the product is a forged product. 
     
     
         17 . An aluminium alloy product obtained by a method of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         18 . A product according to  claim 17 , wherein the product is a rolled product. 
     
     
         19 . A product according to  claim 17 , wherein the product is an extruded product. 
     
     
         20 . A product according to  claim 17 , wherein the product is a forged product. 
     
     
         21 . An armour product comprising a product of any one of  claim 17 .