Alloy containing aluminium for extrusion or other wrought manufacturing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to an alloy containing aluminium and magnesium, a method for the manufacture of said alloy, a method for the manufacture of a product comprising said alloy, a product comprising said alloy, and in particular to the use of said alloy in an extrusion or other wrought manufacturing process.

1 . An aluminium alloy comprising:
 a) of from 6 to 12% by mass of magnesium (Mg);   b) of from 0.01 to 0.5% by mass of titanium (Ti);   c) of from 0.001 to 0.1% by mass of boron (B);   d) of from 0.002 to 0.2% by mass of beryllium (Be);   e) of from 0 to 2.5% by mass of manganese (Mn);   f) of from 0 to 0.2% by mass of iron (Fe);   g) of from 0 to 5% by mass of zinc (Zn);   h) of from 0 to 1% by mass of chromium (Cr);   i) of from 0 to 1% by mass of zirconium (Zr);   j) of from 0 to 0.5% by mass of vanadium (V);   k) of from 0 to 0.06% by mass of copper (Cu);   l) of from 0 to 1% by mass of silicon (Si);   m) of from 0 to 1% by mass of nickel (Ni); and   n) of from 0 to 0.5% by mass of cobalt (Co);   wherein the aluminium alloy further comprises inevitable impurities;   with the balance being aluminium (Al); each amount in relation to the total mass of the alloy composition, and wherein all compounds of the alloy add up to a total of 100% by mass.   
     
     
         2 . The aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein the aluminium alloy is suitable for extrusion and/or wrought applications. 
     
     
         3 . The aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein Mg is present in an amount of from 6.5 to 12% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 7 to 12% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 7.5 to 12% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 8 to 12% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 8 to 11.5% by mass. 
     
     
         4 . The aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein Ti is present:
 i) in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.4% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.3% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.2% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.015 to 0.15% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.015 to 0.1% by mass; preferably in an amount of from 0.015 to 0.08% by mass; and/or
 ii) in an amount of from 0.4% by mass or less, preferably in an amount of 0.3% by mass or less, preferably in an amount of 0.2% by mass or less, preferably in an amount of 0.15% by mass or less, preferably in an amount of 0.1% by mass or less; preferably in an amount of 0.08% by mass or less; and/or 
 iii) in an amount of 0.01% by mass or more, preferably in an amount of 0.015% by mass or more. 
   
     
     
         5 . The aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein Be is present:
 i) in an amount of from 0.002 to 0.15% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.003 to 0.1% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.004 to 0.05% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.005 to 0.02% by mass; and/or
 ii) in an amount of 0.002% by mass or more, or in an amount of 0.003% by mass or more, or in an amount of 0.004% by mass or more, or in an amount of 0.005% by mass or more, or in an amount of 0.015% by mass or more; and/or 
 iii) in an amount of 0.15% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.1% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.05% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.02% by mass or less. 
   
     
     
         6 . The aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein B is present:
 i) in an amount of from 0.002 to 0.08% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.002 to 0.06% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.002 to 0.04% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.003 to 0.02% by mass, preferably in an amount of from 0.003 to 0.016% by mass; and/or
 ii) in an amount of 0.002% by mass or more, or in an amount of 0.0025% by mass or more, or in an amount of 0.003% by mass or more; and/or 
 iii) in an amount of 0.08% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.06% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.04% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.02% by mass or less, or in an amount of 0.016% by mass or less. 
   
     
     
         7 . An aluminium alloy product comprising the aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein the aluminium alloy product is an extruded aluminium profile. 
     
     
         8 . A method for the manufacture of the aluminium alloy according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a) Providing a raw aluminium;   b) Heating the raw aluminium to a temperature in the range of from 650 to 850° C., preferably from 750 to 800° C.;   c) Adding Mg and Be to result in a raw alloy;   d) Optionally degassing the raw alloy;   e) Adding Ti and B to the optionally degassed raw alloy to prepare the aluminium alloy; and   f) Casting the aluminium alloy to prepare an aluminium billet.   
     
     
         9 . A method for the manufacture of the aluminium alloy product according to  claim 7 , wherein the manufacture of the aluminium alloy product comprises the steps of:
 g) Preheating an aluminium billet consisting of the aluminium alloy to a temperature in the range of from 400° C. to 450° C., preferably in the range of from 420° C. to 440° C., to result in a preheated aluminium billet;   h) Inserting the preheated aluminium billet from step g) into an extrusion press; and   i) Extruding the preheated aluminium billet to result an extruded aluminium profile.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein extruding the preheated aluminium billet in step i) is carried out at a maximum force in the range of from 5,000 to 15,000 kN, preferably form 7,000 to 12,000 kN, more preferably 8,000 to 10,000 kN, most preferably at a maximum force of about 9,000 kN. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 j) heat treating the extruded aluminium profile by heating the extruded aluminium profile at a temperature of at least 380° C., or at least 400° C., or at least 430° C., or at least 450° C., for a period of less than 1 hour, or less than 3 hours, or less than 5 hours, or less than 8 hours, or less than 12 hours, or less than 18 hours, or less than 24 hours, preferably less than 12 hours, or preferably less than 18 hours, or for a period of at least 10 minutes, or at least 1 hour, or at least 3 hours, or at least 8 hours, or at least 12 hours, or at least 24 hours, and then cooled in air at ambient temperature.   
     
     
         12 . An extruded aluminium profile prepared by the method according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . The extruded aluminium profile according to  claim 12 , wherein the extruded aluminium profile is an extruded aluminium hollow profile, preferably wherein at least parts of the extruded aluminium profile have a thickness in the range of from 1 to 15 mm, preferably 1 to 10 mm, preferably from 2 to 8 mm, preferably from 2 to 6 mm; or 2 to 5 mm, preferably 2.5 to 4 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The extruded aluminium profile according to  claim 12 , wherein the aluminium alloy of the extruded aluminium profile has a tensile strength Rm of at least 260 MPa, preferably at least 280 MPa, preferably at least 300 MPa, preferably at least 320 MPa, preferably at least 350 MPa; and/or wherein the aluminium alloy of the extruded aluminium profile has a yield strength R p o,2 of at least 100 MPa, preferably at least 140 MPa, preferably at least 180 MPa, preferably at least 190 MPa; and/or wherein the aluminium alloy of the extruded aluminium profile has an elongation A of at least 15%, preferably at least 20%, further preferably at least 25%, further preferably at least 30%, further preferably at least 40%, most preferably at least 45%; and/or wherein the aluminium alloy of the extruded aluminium profile has a ratio X between the elongation A and the tensile strength Rm of at least 0.05%/MPa, preferably at least 0.07%/MPa, preferably at least 0.09%/MPa, preferably at least 0.11%/MPa, preferably at least 0.13%/MPa, preferably at least 0.15%/MPa, preferably at least 0.17%/MPa. 
     
     
         15 . A use of an aluminium alloy according to  claim 1  in an extrusion process or a wrought process.