ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEET HAVING HIGH ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH AND METHODS FOR MAKING THEIR OWN

摘要

An aluminum sheet and a process for manufacturing an aluminum sheet are provided. The process involves batch annealing and produces a sheet exhibiting a high level of ultimate tensile strength for a given level of magnesium content and elongation. The process involves: (a) producing an aluminum ingot comprised of at least 3.0 % by weight magnesium based on the total weight of the ingot (mass), (b) homogenizing the ingot at a temperature of between 900 DEG F and 1200 DEG F, (c) hot rolling the ingot at a temperature of between 570 DEG F to 680 DEG F to produce a first intermediate product, (d) cold rolling the first intermediate product to produce a second intermediate product, (e) heat treating the second intermediate product at a temperature of at least 600 DEG F to produce a third intermediate product, and (f) cold rolling the third intermediate product to produce the aluminum sheet. The sheet exhibits a relatively high ultimate tensile strength for a given level of magnesium and a given level of elongation.