Methods of aging aluminum alloys to achieve improved ballistics performance

摘要

Aluminum alloy products having improved ballistics performance are disclosed. The aluminum alloy products may be underaged. In one embodiment, the underaged aluminum alloy products realize an FSP resistance that it is better than that of a peak strength aged version of the aluminum alloy product. In one embodiment, ballistics performance criteria is selected and the aluminum alloy product is underaged an amount sufficient to achieve a ballistics performance that is at least as good as the ballistics performance criteria.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
selecting ballistics performance criteria for an aluminum alloy product, wherein the aluminum alloy product is an armor component for one of an armored vehicle and personal armor; and producing the aluminum alloy product, wherein the aluminum alloy product realizes a ballistics performance that is at least as good as the ballistics performance criteria, and wherein the producing step comprises:
preparing the aluminum alloy product for aging; andaging the aluminum alloy product, wherein the aging step comprises underaging the aluminum alloy product an amount sufficient to achieve the ballistics performance, wherein the ballistics performance is better than that of a peak strength aged version of the aluminum alloy product.