Aluminum alloys and methods for producing the same

摘要

Heat treatable aluminum alloy strips and methods for making the same are disclosed. The heat treatable aluminum alloy strips are continuously cast and quenched, with optional rolling occurring before and/or after quenching. After quenching, the heat treatable aluminum alloy strip is neither annealed nor solution heat treated.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
(a) continuously casting, via a horizontal casting apparatus, a 7xxx heat treatable aluminum alloy strip;
(i) wherein the continuous casting comprises casting at a speed of 25-400 feet per minute and using roll separating forces of from 25 to 300 pounds per inch of width cast;(ii) wherein the 7xxx heat treatable aluminum strip exits the casting apparatus at a temperature below its solidus temperature;(iii) wherein the 7xxx heat treatable aluminum strip has a gauge of from 0.04 inch to 0.249 inch; (b) after the continuously casting step, hot rolling and quenching the 7xxx heat treatable aluminum alloy strip;
(i) wherein the quenching occurs (a) during the hot rolling (b) after the hot rolling or (c) both during and after the hot rolling; (c) after the hot rolling and quenching step, artificially aging the 7xxx heat treatable aluminum alloy strip; wherein the method excludes both annealing of the 7xxx heat treatable aluminum alloy strip and solution heat treating of the 7xxx heat treatable aluminum alloy strip.