摘要 |
The present invention relates to an improved method of producing an aluminum alloy sheet which, in one embodiment, includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 0.5 inch and, subsequently, preferably without intervening thermal treatments or surface cleaning, cold rolling the strip to a thickness of less than about 0.15 inch, after which the cold rolled strip is subjected to thermal treatment which is preferably either continuous annealing or solution heat treatment. The aluminum alloy, in a continuous annealing embodiment, is preferably selected from the group consisting of the 3XXX and 5XXX series. In another embodiment wherein solution heat treatment is employed, the aluminum alloy is preferably selected from the group consisting of 2XXX and 6XXX. The sheet may be converted into a motor vehicle body panel.
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