Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,

Posted in:

International Patents: Aluminum and Magnesium for Transportation Applications

Editor’s Note: It is widely understood that vehicle mass reduction is influenced by government regulations, consumer preferences, costs (material, processing, and operational), fuel prices, OEM objectives that require specific physical and mechanical properties of use, and cradle-to-gate initiatives. Considering U.S. government initiatives, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) supports all technologies for decarburization throughout the economy, including the decarburizing of transportation across air, sea, rail, and road.1 A major EERE priority is the application of lightweight materials in cars and trucks.  This is guided by the EERE’s Vehicle Technology Office (VTO), which constantly seeks various advanced and sustainable vehicle technologies that include lightweighting materials for cars and trucks.2

The VTO works to improve lightweight materials to improve their properties, processability, and understanding through modeling and computational materials science, while developing alloys of advanced materials to achieve targeted mass reductions (Figure 1).3 In this regard, the VTO considers alloys made from aluminum and magnesium as prime lightweighting materials candidates, with aluminum at a density of 2.70 g/cm3 and magnesium at a density of 1.74 g/cm3. In addition, these two materials provide many other value functions, making either metal a possible candidate for a lightweight vehicle component. To this end, the VTO has published a variety of accessible progress reports over the period from 2006 to 2024, which describe the results of its many R&D programs, summarize data collected, and educate the public about advanced and sustainable vehicle technologies in nine key sustainable areas—including materials. Many new ideas and solutions involving aluminum and magnesium applications in lightweight vehicles are available in the VTO’s progress reports.4

This review of patents, granted within the past two years, focuses on transportation applications made from aluminum or magnesium alloys. To a certain extent, these applications may compete with the VTO’s other lightweight material alternatives (Figure 1), based on cost, processing, and properties tradeoffs. The aim of several of the patents here is to develop superior chemical compositions and physical and mechanical properties that improve manufacturing processes and product performance while reducing cost. As is LMA’s practice for this column, abstracts of these recently granted patents are presented in descending order of date of issue. Copies of all U.S. patents are available online at: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search. 

References

  1. “About the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,” U.S. DOE, www.energy.gov/eere/about-office-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy.
  2. “Lightweight Materials for Cars and Trucks,” Vehicle Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/lightweight-materials-cars-and-trucks.
  3. “Lightweight and Propulsion Materials,” U.S. DOE, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/lightweight-and-propulsion-materials.
  4. “Reports and Publications: Vehicles,” U.S. DOE, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/reports-and-publications.

Joseph C. Benedyk, Editor


—Aluminum—

US12054810 — AL—MG—SI-BASED ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEET EXCELLENT IN FORMABILITY — Kobe Steel, Ltd. (Japan) — Outer panels (outer sheet) and the inner panels (outer sheet) of a panel structural body such as the hood, fender, door, roof, and trunk lid, the Al—Mg—Si-based AA or JIS 6000 series aluminum alloy sheet has been used as a thin and high-strength aluminum alloy sheet. This invention provides an Al—Mg—Si-based aluminum alloy sheet excellent in formability with excellent breaking elongation and work hardenability. An Al—Mg—Si-based aluminum alloy sheet excellent in formability and contains Mg: 0.3 mass % or more and 0.45 mass % or less and Si: 0.6 mass % or more and 1.75 mass % or less with the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, and [Si]/[Mg] is more than 2.5. A height of a first exothermic peak appearing in a temperature range of 210°C or above and below 260°C in a differential scanning thermal analysis curve is 20 μW/mg or more, and a height of a second exothermic peak appearing in a temperature range of 260°C or above and 370°C or below in a differential scanning thermal analysis curve is 18 μW/mg or more.

 

US12043886 — THERMOMECHANICAL AGEING FOR 6XXX EXTRUSIONS — Constellium Singen GMBH (Germany) — The present invention relates to extrusions for automotive structural components, such as bumper, side impact beam, seat sill in vehicles and more particularly to a method for optimizing strength and energy absorption of 6XXX aluminum alloys extrusions by variations in thermomechanical ageing (TMA) consisting in i) an artificial pre-ageing treatment with a duration t1 at a temperature T1 selected to increase the yield strength of said extrusion between 5% and 20%, said temperature T1 being typically between 120°C and 180°C and said duration t1 being typically between 1 and 100 hours, to obtain an artificially preaged extrusion, ii) a plastic deformation of said artificially preaged extrusion between 1% and 80% to obtain a deformed extrusion, iii) a final artificial ageing treatment of said deformed extrusion with a duration t2 at a temperature T2, said temperature T2 being typically between 140°C and 200°C and said the duration t2 being typically between 1 and 100 hours.

 

US12042884 — LAMINATE INCLUDING ALUMINUM SHEETS — Material Sciences Corporation (USA) — A laminate structure and method of forming is provided with an acceptable NVH behavior in automotive components. The laminate structure includes a first metal sheet having a first thickness, a second metal sheet having a second thickness, and an adhesive core having an adhesive thickness. The adhesive core is disposed between and bonded to the first and second metal sheets. The first and second metal sheets are made of an aluminum-based material and the adhesive core is made of an adhesive material also described as a viscoelastic adhesive material. The laminate structure is configured such that a ratio of the sum of the first and second thickness to the adhesive thickness is greater than one (8:1). The laminate structure including the viscoelastic adhesive core is characterized by a composite loss factor at 1,000 Hertz which is continuously greater than 0.1 within a temperature range of 25 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius.

 

US12031200 — FIN MATERIAL MADE OF ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR HEAT EXCHANGER — UACJ Corporation (Japan) — The present invention relates to a fin material made of an aluminum alloy for heat exchangers preferably used as a fin material for heat exchangers such as radiators, heater cores, condensers, and intercoolers. A method of manufacturing a fin material made of an aluminum alloy for heat exchangers with no fin buckling deformation and having excellent buckling resistance in a temperature range of 400°C to 580°C before a filler alloy melts at the time of brazing is provided. The fin material made of an aluminum alloy for heat exchangers contains 1.0 to 2.0 mass % of Mn, 0.7 to 1.4 mass % of Si, and 0.05 to 0.3 mass % of Fe, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, in which a number density of intermetallic compounds having a circle-equivalent diameter of 0.025 to 0.4 μm is 3.0 x 106 particles/mm2 or more, and an amount of solid solution of Mn is 0.3 mass % or less.

 

US12024231 — CROSS-MEMBER STRUCTURE FOR A VEHICLE — Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd. (USA) — A cross-member structure/assembly for a vehicle providing an instrument panel is disclosed. The assembly may comprise a composite structure/assembly comprising a plastic beam structure and a metal structural support section to reinforce the plastic beam structure. The assembly may comprise a metal structural member and/or metal bracket member. The assembly may provide structural reinforcement and integrate vehicle systems/subsystems with the instrument panel. The assembly may comprise a set of sections/segments such as an arrangement of beam/structure sections, mounting sections, and structural elements including members, webs, flanges, stiffeners, reinforcement, plates, walls, surfaces, etc. The assembly may comprise an intermediate structural support section configured to support the beam structure. The metal structural support section may be assembled with the plastic beam structure; the metal structural member may be formed with the plastic beam structure (e.g. insert molding, over-molding, etc.). The metal may comprise an alloy such as steel, aluminum, magnesium, etc.

 

US12018354 — HIGH-PERFORMANCE 3000-SERIES ALUMINUM ALLOYS — NanoAL LLC (USA) — This application relates to a family of 3000-series aluminum alloys with high strength, high ductility, high creep resistance, high thermal stability and durability. The disclosed alloys are especially advantageous for, but not limited to, improving performance of beverage and aerosol cans. Additionally, the disclosed alloys are, for example, advantageous for improving performance of roofing and siding materials, chemical and food equipment, storage tanks, pressure vessels, home appliances, kitchenware, sheet-metal work, truck and trailer parts, automotive parts, and heat exchangers. Aluminum-manganese-zirconium-inoculant alloys that exhibit high strength, high ductility, high creep resistance, high thermal stability, and durability, and can be fabricated utilizing recycled used aluminum cans. The embodiments described herein relate to heat-treatable aluminum-manganese-based (3000-series) alloys, containing an Al3Zr nanoscale precipitate, wherein the nanoscale precipitate has an average diameter of about 20 nm or less and has an L12 structure in an α-Al face centered cubic matrix, wherein the average number density of the nanoscale precipitate is about 2021 m-3 or more.

 

US12000026 — ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEET FOR AUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURAL MEMBER, AUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURAL MEMBER, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ALUMINUM ALLOY SHEET FOR AUTOMOTIVE STRUCTURAL MEMBER — Kobe Steel, Ltd. (Japan) — Provided are an aluminum alloy sheet for automotive structural member which is excellent and well-balanced in strength, formability, and crushability, an automotive structural member, and a method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy sheet for automotive structural member. An aluminum alloy sheet for automotive structural member is an Al—Mg—Si-based aluminum alloy sheet containing, in mass %, Mg: 0.4% or more and 1.0% or less, Si: 0.6% or more and 1.2% or less, and Cu: 0.6% or more and 1.3% or less with the remainder being Al and inevitable impurities and having an earing ratio of -13.0% or less.

 

US11951538 — HOLLOW AUTOMOTIVE PARTS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING HOLLOW CASTINGS — GM Global Technology Operations LLC (USA) — Generally, the use of cores, and multi-core castings specifically, increases the fabrication cost of castings, i.e., the fabrication of hollow parts from aluminum material typically has necessitated use of cores, requiring costly tooling, during the casting process. Also cored castings require extra cleaning and trimming. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods for fabricating hollow castings that include coreless processes. Hollow automotive parts, methods for fabricating hollow automotive parts, and methods for fabricating hollow castings are provided. An exemplary method for fabricating a hollow casting includes casting at least a first casting section and a second casting section from a slurry using a semi-solid casting process and welding the casting sections together at interfaces therebetween.

 

US11939655 — ALUMINUM ALLOY BLANKS WITH LOCAL FLASH ANNEALING — Constellium Neuf-Brisach (France) — The present invention relates to property tailored blank aluminum alloys suitable for the automotive industry. The invention concerns a method for improving aluminum alloy blank tensile yield stress and formability comprising the successive steps of: providing a 6xxx series aluminum alloy slab; optionally homogenizing the slab; hot rolling and optionally cold rolling the slab to obtain a sheet; solution heat treating and quenching the sheet; cold rolling the sheet with at least 20% cold work reduction; cutting the sheet into blanks; flash annealing a portion of the flange of the blanks at a temperature between 360°C and 480°C for a time sufficient to obtain recrystallization of the portion of the flange and cool to a temperature of less than 100°C. The improved blanks and the stamped product and painted stamped products obtained by the method of the invention are particularly useful for automotive applications because of their high strength.

 

US11939654 — METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CORROSION AND HIGH TEMPERATURE RESISTANT ALUMINUM ALLOY EXTRUSION MATERIAL — Hydro Extruded Solutions AS (Norway) — The invention relates to a process for manufacture of a high corrosion resistant aluminum alloy extruded tubes intended to be used for manufacture of automotive and HVAC & R air conditioning units, such as heat exchanger tubing or refrigerant carrying tube lines, or generally fluid carrying tube lines in the HVAC & R field. The method includes providing molten alloy with a composition comprising <0.30, % by weight of silicon, <0.40, % by weight of iron, 0.01-0.6% manganese, <0.30, % magnesium, <0.70, % zinc, 0.05-0.35% chromium, 0.02-0.20% zirconium, <0.25% titanium, <0.20% vanadium, <0.10% copper, up to 0.15% by weight of other impurities, each not greater than 0.03% by weight, and the balance aluminum. The method includes casting the alloy into an extrusion billet, subjecting the billet to a homogenization treatment at a holding temperature of 550 to 620°C for 6 to 10 hours, heating the billet to a temperature of 400 to 550°C, and extruding the billet to a tube.

 

US11938796 — VEHICLE WITH EXOSKELETON — Tesla, Inc. (USA) — A vehicle having an exoskeleton exterior panel that provides crash resistance is described. The exterior panel may be formed from a monolithic metal sheet and attached to an exterior portion of the vehicle frame, and the exterior panel does not comprise an additional support structure. At least one component may be attached to the exterior panel, and the exterior panel may bear the load of at least one component. In some embodiments, the monolithic metal sheet comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, and combinations thereof. Methods of manufacturing the vehicle are also described.

 

US11932925 — ALUMINUM ALLOYS AND COATED ALUMINUM ALLOYS WITH HIGH CORROSION RESISTANCE AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Provided herein are new aluminum alloys comprising Ca, Mg and/or Zn and new coated aluminum alloys comprising surface layers (e.g., coatings) comprising Ca, Mn, Zn, and/or Ni that can be used in aluminum alloy products, such as clad layers. Also provided are methods of making these aluminum alloys, coated aluminum alloys, and clad layers, as well as clad products. These alloys, coated alloys, clad layers, and products possess a combination of strength and other key attributes, such as corrosion resistance, formability, and applicability of paint line pretreatments. The materials can be used in a variety of applications, including automotive, transportation, and electronics applications.

 

US11932923 — STRUCTURAL DIE CAST ALUMINUM ALLOYS — Ohio State Innovation Foundation (USA) — Provided herein are aluminum alloys and methods of making. The aluminum alloys comprise aluminum, silicon, iron, and manganese and possess high mechanical properties. Of all impurity elements, Fe is considered the most detrimental. In some of the patent embodiments, the iron is present in an amount ranging from 0.3% by weight to 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the aluminum alloy. The manganese can be present in amount effective to suppress (or even eliminate) the formation of the deleterious Al5FeSi phase during casting of the aluminum alloy. In some embodiments, the manganese can be present in an amount ranging from 0.1% by weight to 1.3% by weight. Also, strontium may be present in an amount of from 0.005% by weight (50 ppm) to 0.010% by weight (100 ppm). The alloy cooling rate is critical to controlling microstructure and properties.

 

US11932922 — STRIP OF ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR MANUFACTURING BRAZED HEAT EXCHANGERS — Constellium Neuf-Brisach (France) — The invention relates to thin strips, generally 0.05 to 3 mm thick of an aluminum-manganese core, optionally clad on one or two face(s) with an aluminum-silicon brazing alloy and/or an interlayer alloy, placed between the core and the optional brazing alloy, made of an aluminum-manganese alloy. These strips are typically intended for the manufacture of elements, such as tubes, collectors and plates, of heat exchangers assembled by brazing that are found in engine cooling and passenger compartment air-conditioning systems of motor vehicles. Thus, strip intended for the manufacture of brazed heat exchangers, having a core made of an aluminum alloy with the composition (weight %): Si: 0.10-0.30%, preferably 0.15-0.25% Fe<0.20% Cu: 0.75-1.05%, preferably 0.75-1.02%, more preferably 0.75-1.0% Mn: 1.2-1.7%, preferably 1.2-1.55%, more preferably 1.25-1.4% Mg<0.03% preferably <0.025%, more preferably <0.015% Zn<0.1% Ti<0.15% other elements <0.05% each and <0.15% in total, remainder aluminum.

 

US11920229 — HIGH STRENGTH 6XXX ALUMINUM ALLOYS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Provided are new high strength 6xxx aluminum alloys and methods of making aluminum sheets thereof, wherein the aluminum alloy product is in an F temper, a T4 temper, a T6 temper, or a T8x temper. These aluminum sheets may be used to fabricate components which may replace steel in a variety of applications including the transportation industry. In some examples, the disclosed high strength 6xxx alloys can replace high strength steels with aluminum. The aluminum alloy product of claimed composition has a yield strength from 300 MPa to 450 MPa when the aluminum alloy product is in a T6 temper or a T8x temper. In one example, steels having a yield strength below 340 MPa may be replaced with the disclosed 6xxx aluminum alloys without the need for major design modifications.

 

US11898232 — HIGH-STRENGTH ALLOY BASED ON ALUMINIUM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ARTICLES THEREFROM — United Company RUSAL Engineering and Technology Centre LLC (Russia) — The present invention relates to metallurgy of high-strength cast and wrought alloys based on aluminum and can be used in mission critical designs operable under load, in the transport field, sports industry, casings for electronic devices, and other industrial sectors. The technical result aims to enhance mechanical characteristics of articles produced from the alloy by precipitation hardening caused by secondary phases in the age-hardening process while providing high workability during casting. The claimed high-strength alloy comprises zinc, magnesium, nickel, iron, copper, zirconium, and at least one metal selected from a group consisting of titanium, scandium and chromium, with the following amounts in, wt %: zinc 3.8-7.4; magnesium 1.2-2.6; nickel 0.5-2.5; iron 0.3-1.0; copper 0.001-0.25; zirconium 0.05-0.2; titanium 0.01-0.05; scandium 0.05-0.10; chromium 0.04-0.15; and the remainder being aluminum, wherein iron and nickel form aluminides of the Al9FeNi phase, which originates from eutectic transformation and represents at least 2 vol %.

 

US11866807 — ALUMINUM ALLOY PIPE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME — UACJ Corporation and UACJ Extrusion Corporation (Japan) — The technology disclosed herein relates to an aluminum alloy pipe having high strength used for piping for a heat exchanger or hose joints and a method of producing such an aluminum alloy pipe. An aluminum alloy pipe includes a pipe body portion made of an Al—Mg series alloy that includes Mg at a concentration equal to or higher than 0.7 mass % and lower than 2.5 mass % and Ti at a concentration higher than 0 mass % and equal to or lower than 0.15 mass %, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, and a Zn-containing layer being outside the pipe body portion and including Zn being diffused in the Al—Mg series alloy at a concentration equal to or higher than 0.1 mass %.

 

US11840748 — ALUMINUM ALLOY FORGING — Resonac Corporation (Japan) — An aluminum alloy forging includes 0.30 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less of Cu; 0.63 mass % or more and 1.30 mass % or less of Mg; 0.45 mass % or more and 1.45 mass % or less of Si; the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, wherein the following relations are satisfied,
[Mg content]×1.587≥−4.1×[Cu content]2+7.8×[Cu content]−1.9  (1)
[Si content]×2.730≥−4.1×[Cu content]2+7.8×[Cu content]−1.9  (2)
and the ratio of the integrated intensity Q1 of the X-ray diffraction peak of the CuAl2 phase to the integrated intensity Q2 of the X-ray diffraction peak of the (200) plane of the Al phase obtained by the X-ray diffraction method, Q1/Q2, is 2×10-1 or less. According to the present disclosure, it becomes possible to provide aluminum alloy forgings with excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance at room temperature.

 

US11821065 — HIGH STRENGTH 6XXX SERIES ALUMINUM ALLOYS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Described herein are 6xxx series aluminum alloys with unexpected properties and novel methods of producing such aluminum alloys. The aluminum alloys are highly formable and exhibit high strength. The alloy slabs are produced by belt continuous casting and can be homogenized and soaked at specified conditions and hot rolled to a final gauge and/or a final temper, wherein the aluminum alloy comprises 0.26-2.37 wt. % Si, 0.06-0.60 wt. % Fe, 0.26-2.37 wt. % Cu, 0.06-0.57 wt. % Mn, 0.26-2.37 wt. % Mg, 0.02-0.21 wt. % Cr, and up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al. These alloys can be used in automotive, transportation, industrial, and electronics applications, just to name a few.

 

US11821061 — ANODIZED QUALITY 5XXX ALUMINUM ALLOYS WITH HIGH STRENGTH AND HIGH FORMABILITY AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Described herein are anodized quality aluminum alloys having high strength and high formability, along with methods of making the same. Aluminum alloys as described herein comprise 0 to about 0.1 wt. % Si, 0 to about 0.2 wt. % Fe, 0 to about 0.3 wt. % Cu, 0 to about 0.5 wt. % Mn, about 2.0 to about 5.0 wt. % Mg, 0 to about 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0 to about 0.2 wt. % Zn, 0 to about 0.1 wt. % Ti, and up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, with the remainder as Al. Also described herein are products prepared from the anodized quality AA5xxx series aluminum alloy sheets. Such products include consumer electronic parts, consumer electronic product parts, architectural sheet products, architectural sheet product parts, and automobile body parts. Optionally, the aluminum alloys are produced by direct chill casting or continuous casting. The aluminum alloys can be processed by homogenization, hot rolling, cold rolling, and/or annealing.

 

US11819937 — ULTRASONIC PLUS RESISTANCE WELDING FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Japan) — Welding to bond dissimilar metals, e.g. aluminum and steel sheet metals, has been unsuccessful due to the inherent discrepancies in the metallurgical and physical properties between the two metals. The formation of intermetallic compounds prohibits obtaining satisfactory welds and promotes corrosion which is an issue of concern for automotive applications. Described herein is a welded assembly that includes a first component including an aluminum material, a second component including a stainless steel, and a third component including a steel material. An ultrasonic weld is formed between the first and second components to join them and form a stack. A sealant and/or adhesive may be applied to the stack. A resistance spot weld is used to join the third component to the stack to form the welded assembly. The resistance spot weld encompasses a portion of the first, second, and third components, and a portion of the ultrasonic weld. The resistance spot weld is completely encompassed in the welded assembly, and thus is sealed from electrolyte in a surrounding environment.

 

US11814701 — HIGH-PERFORMANCE 5000-SERIES ALUMINUM ALLOYS — NanoAL LLC (USA) — This application relates to a family of 5000-series aluminum alloys containing Al-Zr nano-precipitates with high strength, good ductility, high creep resistance, high thermal stability and durability. Disclosed aluminum alloys comprise an inoculant, wherein the inoculant comprises one or more of tin, strontium, zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, indium, antimony, lead, and bismuth. The disclosed aluminum alloys are essentially free of scandium, which is understood to mean that no scandium is added intentionally, as addition of scandium in aluminum alloys is advantageous for mechanical properties but scandium is very expensive, limiting its practical applications. The presence of an inoculant accelerates precipitation kinetics of Al3Zr nano-precipitates that can be formed within a practical amount of time during heat-treatment. Mechanical properties of Al-4.5Mg-0.35Mn-0.2Si wt. % (AA5182) and Al-4.5Mg-0.35Mn-0.2Si-0.3Zr-0.1Sn wt. % (invented alloy), after peak-aging and cold rolling effect strength and elongation of the AA5182, with addition of nano-precipitates are increased compared to the based AA5182 alloy with an increase of 12% in yield strength, 8% in tensile strength, and 26% in elongation observed. The disclosed alloys are advantageous for improving performance of roofing and siding materials, chemical and food equipment, storage tanks, home appliances, sheet-metal work, marine parts, transportation parts, heavy duty cooking utensils, hydraulic tubes, fuel tanks, pressure vessels, heavy-duty truck and trailer bodies and assemblies, drilling rigs, missile components, and railroad cars.

 

US11788178 — METHODS OF MAKING HIGHLY-FORMABLE ALUMINUM ALLOYS AND ALUMINUM ALLOY PRODUCTS THEREOF — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Aluminum alloy sheets are increasingly replacing steel sheets for automobile parts to reduce the weight of automobiles while providing comparable mechanical properties, e.g., strength. However, by improving the strength of aluminum alloy sheets, the formability of these aluminum alloy sheets is often compromised. Provided herein are highly-formable aluminum alloys with improved strength comprising about 0.5 to 2.0 wt. % Si, 0.1 to 0.4 wt. % Fe, up to 0.4 wt. % Cu, up to 0.5 wt. % Mg, 0.02 to 0.1 wt. % Mn, up to 0.02 wt. % Cr, up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, up to 0.1 wt. % Zn, up to 0.15 wt. % impurities, and Al and methods of making such alloys. The method of preparing aluminum alloys described herein can include a low final cold reduction step and/or an optional inter-annealing step to produce randomly distributed crystallographic texture components that produce an isotropic aluminum alloy product exhibiting improved formability and deep drawability. The methods described herein result in aluminum alloy microstructures having a balance of alpha fibers and beta fibers that promote improved formability of aluminum alloy sheets. The resulting improvements in quality allow for shaping processes with reduced rates of spoilage.

 

US11767608 — METHODS OF PREPARING 7XXX ALUMINUM ALLOYS FOR ADHESIVE BONDING, AND PRODUCTS RELATING TO THE SAME — Arconic technologies LLC (USA) — Broadly, the present disclosure relates to methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloys for production of a functionalized layer thereon (e.g., for adhesive bonding) and 7xxx aluminum alloy products relating thereto. It would be useful to facilitate adhesive bonding of 7xxx aluminum alloys to itself and other materials (e.g., for automotive applications). Methods of preparing 7xxx aluminum alloy products for adhesive bonding and products made therefrom are disclosed. Generally, the methods include preparing a 7xxx aluminum alloy product for anodizing, then anodizing the 7xxx aluminum alloy product, and then contacting the anodized 7xxx aluminum alloy product with an appropriate chemical to create a functionalized layer. The new 7xxx aluminum alloy products may realize improved shear bonding performance.

 

US11753085 — ASSEMBLY OF AN ALUMINUM COMPONENT AND OF A PRESS HARDENED STEEL PART HAVING AN ALLOYED COATING COMPRISING SILICON, IRON, ZINC AND MAGNESIUM, THE BALANCE BEING ALUMINUM — ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg) — An assembly of an aluminum-based part and a press hardened steel part provided with an alloyed coating including in weight percent, 0.1 to 15.0% silicon, 15.0 to 70% of iron, 0.1 to 20.0% of zinc, 0.1 to 4.0% of magnesium, the balance being aluminum, on at least one of the surfaces thereof placed so as to be in contact with the aluminum-based part. These assemblies are for example intended for use in the manufacture of automotive body parts, such as door openings and the like, without however being limited thereto.

 

US11746400 — ULTRA-HIGH STRENGTH ALUMINUM ALLOY PRODUCTS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Provided herein are ultra-high strength aluminum alloys and products prepared therefrom, along with methods of processing the ultra-high strength aluminum alloys. The aluminum alloys described herein are high solute alloys, including significant amounts of zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and other elements in addition to aluminum. The aluminum alloys described herein are amenable to post-aging processing without cracking. The aluminum alloys described herein can achieve specific yield strengths of up to 300 MPa/(g/cm3), which are significantly higher than the specific yield strengths achieved by ultra-high strength steel, which can range from 150-170 MPa/(g/cm3). The unique combination of alloying elements in the aluminum alloy composition and methods of processing the aluminum alloy composition result in aluminum alloy products that rival and surpass the strengths previously achievable only by steel-based products.

 

US11739399 — METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ALUMINUM CASTING, AND ALUMINUM CASTING MANUFACTURED THEREBY — Samkee Automotive Co., Ltd. (Korea) — A method for manufacturing a high-quality aluminum casting includes preparing an aluminum alloy raw material including Si in an amount of 9-12 wt. %, melting the raw material to prepare a molten metal, adding a refiner containing Ti, B, and Sr to the molten metal, injecting the molten metal into a casting apparatus to maintain the temperature of the molten metal added with the refiner at 585-610°C, and operating the casting apparatus to cast the injected molten metal into a product having a predetermined shape. The method is capable of, through the control of solid/liquid fraction of an aluminum molten metal and the control of phase shape by the addition of a refiner, reduce factors that adversely affect the quality of a high-pressure casting, which cause chronic problems such as shrinkage, porosity, and the like, while implementing advantages such as improving energy efficiency during the manufacturing of an aluminum casting, reducing manufacturing costs, simplifying casting process, shortening manufacturing time, extending mold life, and the like.

 

US11707977 — METHOD AND STRUCTURES TO ISOLATE DISSIMILAR METAL STRUCTURES — Ford Global Technologies, LLC (USA) — A structural enclosure includes a pair of aluminum rails with an upper wall and a lower wall spaced apart from the upper wall, a plurality of sleeves extending into and captured within the aluminum rails, and each of the plurality of sleeves having a head with a predefined thickness disposed on an outer surface of the aluminum rails and configured to separate the outer surface of the aluminum rails from a steel vehicle chassis to which the aluminum rails are mounted. The structural enclosure can be an aluminum battery box for an electric vehicle and the aluminum battery box can be mounted to and electrochemically isolated from the steel vehicle chassis.

 

US11692255 — HIGH STRENGTH 7XXX SERIES ALUMINUM ALLOYS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME — Novelis Inc. (USA) — Described herein are 7xxx series aluminum alloys with unexpected properties and novel methods of producing such aluminum alloys. The aluminum alloys exhibit high strength and are highly formable. The alloys are produced by continuous casting and do not exhibit cracking tendency during and/or after casting, along with methods of making and processing the alloys, and can be hot rolled to a final gauge and/or a final temper, wherein the aluminum alloy product can have a yield strength of 400 to 650 MPa at peak age condition. The 7xxx alloys can be used in automotive, transportation, industrial, and electronics applications, just to name a few.

 

US11685973 — CORROSION RESISTANT HIGH STRENGTH BRAZING SHEET — Arconic Technologies LLC (USA) — An apparatus, material and method for forming a brazing sheet has a high strength core bonded with corrosion protection layer on the coolant side and/or layers on both airside and coolant side. The material enables heat exchanger components, such as tube, header, plate, etc., for applications, such as automotive heat exchangers, that require high fatigue life as well as high service life in a corrosive environment. The disclosed subject matter relates to a sheet material with an aluminum alloy core, having 0.1 to 1.2 wt. % Si; up to 0.6 wt. % Fe, 1.0 to 2.6 wt. % Cu; 0.5 to 1.8 wt. % Mn, up to 0.6 wt. % Mg; 0.05 to 1.0 wt. % Zn, up to 0.2 wt. % Ti; up to 0.2 wt. % Zr and a 4XXX aluminum alloy braze liner having 6 to 13 wt. % Si; up to 0.8 wt. % Fe, up to 0.3 wt. % Cu; up to 0.2 wt. % Mn, up to 2.0 wt. % Mg; up to 4.0 wt. % Zn.

 

US11618098 — METHODS OF FORMING AND STAMPING TAILOR FRICTION STIR WELDED BLANKS WITH ENHANCED EDGE STRETCH — Ford Global Technologies, LLC (USA) — The present disclosure addresses the issues of forming tailor welded aluminum blanks, among other issues related to manufacturing stamped parts from tailor welded aluminum blanks. A method of forming a stamped part includes forming a tailor welded blank by friction stir welding (FSW) a first blank to a second blank, removing a FSW start spot and a FSW stop spot from the tailor welded blank using a machining process such that a finished tailor welded blank is formed and stamping the finished tailor welded blank into the stamped part such that a weld formed by FSW the first blank to the second blank is plastically deformed. The first blank and the second blank can be an aluminum alloy and a predetermined amount of material is machined from the FSW start spot and the FSW stop spot, the predetermined amount of material being equal to or greater than a thickness of the first blank and the second blank.

 

US11608547 — ENHANCED ALUMINUM ALLOY GALVANICALLY COMPATIBLE WITH MAGNESIUM ALLOY COMPONENTS — GM Global Technology Operations LLC (USA) — Automotive components such as housings, cases, assemblies, and units include aluminum alloy components in direct contact with magnesium alloy components and such contact may result in galvanic corrosion. An enhanced aluminum alloy galvanically compatible with a magnesium alloy component is disclosed. The aluminum alloy comprises aluminum, less than 0.2 weight percent copper, less than 0.2 weight percent iron, 6.0 to 9.0 weight percent silicon, 0.6 to 1.5 weight percent magnesium, and greater than 0.8 weight percent manganese. The aluminum alloy further comprises less than 2 weight percent zinc, less than 0.1 weight percent nickel, less than 0.2 weight percent tin, less than 0.05 weight percent titanium; and 0.008 to 0.02 weight percent strontium. Manganese and iron have a weight ratio of at least 30:1. Furthermore, iron and manganese combined content is less than 2.0 weight percent.

 

US11458528 — WHEEL AUTOMATIC CLOSED DIE FORGING PRODUCTION LINE AND ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL — CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. (China) — The disclosure relates to the technical field of manufacturing of automobile hubs, and particularly relates to an aluminum alloy wheel automatic closed die forging production line that includes a saw machine, a first transfer track, a bar heating furnace, a first manipulator, an oscillating rolling machine, a second manipulator, a primary forging hydraulic machine, an intermediate heating furnace, a third manipulator, a finish forging hydraulic machine, a wheel transfer block, a fourth manipulator, a cutting, expanding and punching hydraulic machine, a second transfer track, a spinning machine, a fifth manipulator, a third transfer track, a heat treatment furnace, a fourth transfer track, a machining unit, a sixth manipulator and a fifth finished product track, and can improve mechanical and the physical properties of the wheel product, the wheel forging effect and the yield. Aluminum and magnesium alloy wheel compression molding is realized, reducing cost, time and labor for secondary machining and reshaping, and improving production safety and efficiency.

 

US11408061 — HIGH TEMPERATURE, CREEP-RESISTANT ALUMINUM ALLOY MICROALLOYED WITH MANGANESE, MOLYBDENUM AND TUNGSTEN — Ford Global Technologies, LLC and Northwestern University (USA) — The present disclosure relates to aluminum alloy and particularly to cast aluminum alloys used at high temperatures as in engine components. A high temperature creep-resistant aluminum alloy microalloyed with manganese and molybdenum and/or tungsten is provided. The aluminum alloy includes scandium, zirconium, erbium, silicon, at least one of molybdenum and tungsten, manganese and the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The concentration of the alloying elements, in atom %, is greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 0.15 scandium, greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 0.35 zirconium, greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 0.15 erbium, greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 0.2 silicon, greater than 0.0 and less or equal to 0.75 molybdenum when included, greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 0.35 tungsten when included, and greater than 0.0 and less than or equal to 1.5 manganese. And the total concentration of Zr+Er+Sc is greater than or equal to 0.1.

 

—Magnesium—

US11987864 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY AND FORGED COMPONENT — GM Global Technology Operations LLC (USA) — The present disclosure relates to methods of making magnesium-based alloy compositions that may improve formability of a magnesium cast billet. A magnesium alloy matrix having an alloy composition including aluminum at a concentration of between 0.5 wt. % to 2.5 wt. %, manganese at a concentration of between 0.3 wt. % to 1.0 wt. %, the concentration of manganese is greater than or equal to a value of [Mn] determined by a linear function [Mn]=x[Al], where x is at least 0.6 when [Al]=0.5 and is at least 0.14 when [Al]=2.5, zinc at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 3 wt. %, tin at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 3 wt. %, calcium at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 0.5%, rare earth metals at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 5 wt. %, and a balance of the alloy composition being magnesium.

 

US11926887 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY, A PISTON MANUFACTURED BY SAID MAGNESIUM ALLOY AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAID PISTON — Husqvarna AB (Sweden) — It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved material for pistons of combustion engines that may withstand the conditions that prevail in piston arrangements of combustion engines and to provide a material which allows for efficient production of cast components at low cost. One or more of these objects can be met in pistons for use in a two stroke combustion engine with a magnesium alloy containing: Al: 0.2-1.6 wt. % Zn: 0.2-0.8 wt. % 5 Mn: 0.1-0.5 wt. % Zr 0-0.5 wt. % La: 1-3.5 wt. % Y: 0.05-3.5 wt. % Ce: 0-2 wt. % 10 Nd: 0-2 wt. % Gd: 0-3 wt. % Pr: 0-0.5 wt. % Be: 0-20 ppm the balance being Mg and incidental elements.

 

US11913092 — MAGNESIUM-BASED ALLOY FOAM — CellMo Materials Innovation, Inc. (USA) — Morphology, microstructure, compressive behavior, and bio-corrosive properties of magnesium or magnesium alloy foams allow for their use in biodegradable biomedical, metal-air battery electrode, hydrogen storage, and lightweight transportation applications. Magnesium or Mg alloy foams are usually very difficult to manufacture due to the strong oxidation layer around the metallic particles; however, in this invention, they can be synthesized via a camphene-based freeze-casting process with the addition of graphite powder using precisely controlled heat-treatment parameters. The average porosity ranges from 45 to 85 percent and the median pore diameter is about a few tens to hundreds of microns, which are suitable for bio and energy applications utilizing their enhanced surface area. This invention is based on powder-slurry freeze-casting method using camphene as a volatile solvent is also applicable for other metal foams such as iron, copper, or others to produce three-dimensional metal foams with high strut connectivity.

 

US11905577 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY FOR WHEEL AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF — CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. (China) — The disclosure discloses a magnesium alloy for wheels, comprising in mass percentage: Al: 2-3.0 wt. %; Zn: 0.5-1.0 wt. %; Mn: 0.3-0.5 wt. %; Ce: 0.15-0.3 wt. %; La: 0.05-0.1 wt. %, the balance is Mg. The magnesium alloy of the present invention takes Al element and Mn element as main alloying elements, supplemented by trace Ce and La elements as alloying process, and the nano-scale Mn-rich precipitated phase obtained during homogenization and the segregation of rare earth elements Ce and La at the interface and grain boundary of Mn-rich precipitated phase are used to inhibit the coarsening during extrusion and forging, so as to improve the strength and plastic deformation ability of the alloy.

 

US11865609 — METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING POWDER-MODIFIED MAGNESIUM ALLOY CHIP — Seiko Epson Corporation (Japan) — A method for manufacturing a powder-modified magnesium alloy chip for thixomolding includes a drying step of heating a mixture containing an Mg chip containing Mg as a main component, a C powder containing C as a main component, a binder, and an organic solvent to dry the organic solvent contained in the mixture, and a stirring step of stirring the mixture heated in the drying step. An amount of an additive such as a carbon powder coating a magnesium alloy material is preferably an amount at which a desired characteristic of a molded product can be implemented, e.g., to improve a bending characteristic and a tensile strength of a molded product by thixomolding. The molded product obtained by the thixomolding is used for components constituting various products including an automobile component, a railroad vehicle component, a ship component, and an aircraft component.

 

US11851739 — HIGH-STRENGTH MAGNESIUM ALLOY PROFILE, PREPARATION PROCESS THEREFOR AND USE THEREOF — Chongquin University (China) — Provided are a high-strength magnesium alloy profile, a preparation process therefor and the use thereof, wherein same relate to the technical field of the formation of high-strength magnesium alloys. A strengthening phase of the high-strength magnesium alloy profile in an extrusion state mainly comprises LPSO phase and β phase, wherein the volume fraction of LPSO phase is 1-40%; and the volume fraction of β phase is 1-20%. A strengthening phase of the high-strength magnesium alloy profile in an aging state mainly comprises LPSO phase, β phase, β′ phase and γ′ phase, wherein the volume fraction of LPSO phase is 1-40%; the volume fraction of β phase is 1-20%; the range of the number density of β′ phase is 1015 -1025m-3 , and the length to thickness ratio l/d thereof is 1:20; and the number density of γ′ phase is 1014 -1024 m-3 and the length to thickness ratio l/d thereof is 1:50. The present disclosure relates to a high-strength magnesium alloy profile, a process for preparing the same, and use thereof, mainly in the field of aircraft unit load devices.

 

US11827958 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY, PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF, AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING WHEELS BY USING THE MAGNESIUM ALLOY — CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. (China) — The disclosure discloses a high-speed spin-cast magnesium alloy and a preparation method for an automotive wheel thereof, the magnesium alloy has Mg—Al—Zn—Mn—Sr alloy with a high formability and high strength, and its chemical composition mass percentage is: Al: 2.4-4.5 wt. %; Zn: 0.6-1.2 wt. %; Mn: 0.4-0.6 wt. %; Sr: 0.15-0.3 wt. %; the balance is Mg. The present disclosure adopts the principle that by increasing the content of Mn in the magnesium alloy, a large amount of Mn-rich phase is generated during the alloy preparation process, and the degree of subcooling is controlled so that a fine spherical dispersed nano-scale Mn-rich phase is obtained during the solidification process. The nano-scale Mn-rich precipitate phase can pin the grain boundaries and inhibit the grain boundary migration to refine grains and achieve the effect of improving the strength. The divorced eutectic Mg17Al12 phase generated during the casting process will deteriorate the structure, so Sr is added to the alloy, Sr combining with Al to suppress the coarse phase of the divorced eutectic, refine the grains, increase the amount of eutectic, and reduce the risk of thermal cracking of large-size cast bars. In addition, Sr weakens the texture during the high-temperature spinning forming process and reduces the risk of cracking during the spinning tension, which is beneficial to high-speed spinning forming.

 

US11788172 — PREPARATION METHOD OF MAGNESIUM MATRIX COMPOSITE REINFORCED WITH SILICON CARBIDE PARTICLES — Taiyuan University of Technology (China) — Disclosed is a preparation method of a magnesium matrix composite reinforced with SiC particles, belonging to the technical field of metallurgical materials, including the following steps: (1) carrying out oxidation pretreatment on SiC particles; (2) laying a piece of magnesium alloy on a bottom, laying a layer of oxidized SiC particles, then repeating a laying operation of a layer of magnesium alloy and a layer of SiC particles until the magnesium alloy and the SiC particles are completely laid, introducing inert gases, heating and melting, then performing cinder scrapping; (3) cooling to a semisolid temperature of the magnesium alloys for semisolid mechanical stirring, heating, and mechanically stirring again; (4) cooling again to the semisolid temperature of the magnesium alloys, then casting into a blank; and (5) heating the blank to the semisolid temperature of the magnesium alloys and extruding to obtain the magnesium matrix composite reinforced with SiC particles. Magnesium matrix composite reinforced with particles are widely used in the aerospace, automotive and electronics industries for their high specific strength, specific stiffness and excellent wear resistance.

 

US11773472 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY SHEET AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME — Posco Co., Ltd. (Korea) — The present invention provides a magnesium alloy sheet with excellent moldability at room temperature and less anisotropy by controlling a cumulative reduction ratio in a step for manufacturing a magnesium alloy sheet. In detail, the magnesium alloy sheet includes 0.5 to 3.5 wt. % of Al, 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % of Zn, 0.1 to 1.0 wt. % of Ca, 0.01 to 1.0 wt. % of Mn, a remainder of Mg, and other inevitable impurities with respect to an entire 100 wt. % of a magnesium alloy sheet, wherein an average crystal grain size of the magnesium alloy sheet is 3 to 15 μm, the magnesium alloy sheet includes a stringer, and a length of the stringer in a rolling direction (RD) is equal to or less than the maximum value of 50 μm.

 

US11745252 — METHOD OF PRODUCING A MAGNESIUM ALLOY WHEEL HUB — CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. (China) — The disclosure discloses a method of producing a magnesium alloy wheel hub, comprises the following steps: step 1, heating a magnesium alloy bar to 350-430°C. and keeping the temperature for 20 minutes; step 2, initially forging and forming the bar under a forging press, the forging speed is 6-15 mm/s; step 3, finally forging and forming the bar under a forging press, and the forging speed is 5-8 mm/s; step 4, testing the microstructure and material properties of the final forged blank to obtain the layered material property distribution on the thickness of the blank; step 5, according to the layered material property distribution on the thickness of the blank obtained in step 4, selecting the part that meets the requirements to make a magnesium alloy wheel hub. According to the different properties in the thickness direction of the blank, the spoke orientation of the magnesium alloy wheel can be quickly designed according to the needs, and the magnesium alloy wheel that meets the usage performance can be obtained, which greatly improves the design and processing efficiency.

 

US11739400 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME — National Institute for Materials Science (Japan) — To manufacture body panels for automobiles, alloys with 160 MPa in 0.2% proof strength and about 8 mm in Index Erichsen value, both of which are essential mechanical properties, are needed. The object of the present invention is to provide a highly versatile magnesium alloy capable of satisfying both requirements for formability at any in a range of temperatures including room temperature and for intended strength, and a method for manufacturing the magnesium alloy. A magnesium alloy of the present invention has a structure, comprising: 0.5-2.0 wt. % of Zn; 0.3-0.8 wt. % of Ca; at least 0.2 wt. % of Zr; and the remainder comprising Mg and unavoidable impurities, wherein a nanometer-sized precipitate comprising Mg, Ca and Zn dispersed on the (0001) plane of a magnesium matrix, thereby achieving both formability and strength in a range of temperatures including room temperature.

 

US11725287 — METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNESIUM MATERIAL OR MAGNESIUM ALLOY MATERIAL WITH A COATING — Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd. (Japan) — Conventional chemical conversion techniques have sometimes failed to form a chemical conversion coating excellent in adhesiveness and corrosion resistance on a magnesium-containing metal material. The present invention solves the above problem by performing a surface conditioning treatment by using a surface conditioning agent that includes specific dibasic calcium phosphate particles before performing a chemical conversion for forming the chemical conversion coating. The dibasic calcium phosphate may be crystalline dibasic calcium phosphate or amorphous dibasic calcium phosphate, but, usually, crystalline dibasic calcium phosphate is used.

 

US11692247 — WROUGHT MAGNESIUM ALLOY HAVING IMPROVED PROPERTIES, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME, AND HIGH-SPEED EXTRUSION METHOD USING SAME — Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation (Korea) — An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a novel magnesium alloy, which is capable of manufacturing a magnesium extrudate having significantly improved mechanical properties and also of manufacturing an extrudate with a good surface quality without hot cracking even at a high speed. This application relates to a wrought magnesium alloy that includes 2.0 to 8.0 wt. % of bismuth (Bi), 0.5 to 6.5 wt. % aluminum (Al), the balance of magnesium (Mg), and inevitable impurities. Using a magnesium alloy for high-speed extrusion according to the present disclosure, it is possible to manufacture a magnesium alloy extrudate having a good surface quality without hot cracking even under high-temperature (extrusion temperature: 300°C to 450°C) and high-speed (die-exit speed: 40 m/min to 80 m/min) extrusion conditions. Furthermore, the extrudate manufactured from the magnesium alloy exhibits greatly improved strength and elongation compared to existing magnesium extrudates even when the alloy does not contain a rare-earth metal.

 

US11674208 — HIGH CONDUCTIVITY MAGNESIUM ALLOY — Terves, LLC (USA) — A castable, moldable, or extrudable magnesium-based alloy that includes one or more insoluble additives having high conductivity. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure. The magnesium-based composite has improved thermal and mechanical properties by the modification of grain boundary properties through the addition of insoluble nanoparticles to the magnesium alloys. The magnesium-based composite can have a thermal conductivity that is greater than 180 W/m-K, and/or ductility exceeding 15-20% elongation to failure.

 

US11655513 — METHODS OF FORMING MAGNESIUM-BASED ALLOY ARTICLES AT HIGH STRAIN RATES — GM Global Technology Operations LLC (USA) — Methods of making magnesium-based alloy components, such as automotive components, include treating a casting comprising a magnesium-based alloy to a first deforming process to form a preform. In one aspect, the first deforming process has a first maximum predetermined strain rate of greater than or equal to about 0.001/s to less than or equal to about 1/s in an environment having a temperature of ≥to about 250°C to ≤to about 450°C. In another aspect, the first deforming process is cold deforming that is followed by annealing. The preform is then subjected to a second deforming process having a second maximum predetermined strain rate of ≥about 1/s to ≤about 100/s in an environment having a temperature of ≥about 150°C to ≤about 450°C to form the magnesium-based alloy component substantially free of cracking. A solid magnesium-based alloy component having select microstructures is also provided.

 

US11660659 — FORGING PROCESS OF MAGNESIUM ALLOY WHEEL HUB — CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. (China) — The disclosure discloses the forging process of a magnesium alloy wheel hub comprises the following steps: step 1, heating a magnesium alloy bar to 350-420°C and keeping the temperature for 20 minutes; step 2, forging and forming the bar under a 6000-ton forging press, and controlling the forging process in sections. The forging process of the disclosure adopts sectional control, different forging process parameters are adopted in different forging stages, so that magnesium alloy bars can exert maximum forgeability in different deformation stages, make magnesium alloy deformation process more continuous, make forging process easier, obtain forged magnesium alloy wheel hub with excellent properties, and greatly improve forging process and processing efficiency.

 

US11555510 — JOINING METHOD FOR FASTENING TOLERANCE ADJUSTERS TO MAGNESIUM-BASED CASTINGS — Magnesium Products of America, Inc. (USA) — In automotive applications, tolerance adjusters are often used as vital components in the assembly of, for example, headlamps, rear lights, instrument panels, mudguards, door frames and roof ledges. The present application relates to joining methods for fastening tolerance adjusters onto magnesium-based die castings using interference fitting measurements in automotive applications. An interference fit joining method includes providing a tolerance adjuster and a die casting boss formed in a magnesium-based die casting. The method also includes positioning the tolerance adjuster over a cavity of the die casting boss. The method also includes pressing the tolerance adjuster at least partially into the cavity to form a joint assembly.

 

US11548066 — INJECTION MOLDING MATERIAL FOR MAGNESIUM THIXOMOLDING — Seiko Epson Corporation (Japan) — Thixomolding is known as one of methods for manufacturing magnesium components and, in thixomolding, material is increased in fluidity by heating and shearing and injected into a mold. Thus, it is possible to mold a thinner component and a component with a complicated shape compared to a die casting method. Further, since the material is injected into the mold without being exposed to an atmosphere, there is also an advantage that a molded product can be molded without using a flameproof gas such as SF6. This disclosure defines an injection molding material for magnesium thixomolding includes: a powder containing Mg as a main component; and a chip containing Mg as a main component, in which a proportion of the powder in the injection molding material for magnesium thixomolding is 5 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less, and a tap density of the powder is 0.15 g/cm3 or more.

 

US11534871 — DISSIMILAR METAL JOINT INCLUDING FLAME-RETARDANT MAGNESIUM ALLOY LAYER — Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha (Japan) — Provided is a multi-material joint material that contributes to multi-materialization and a reduction in weight of a transport apparatus, the multi-material joint material being configured from: a flame-retardant magnesium alloy improved by the addition of calcium; and a metal or alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, stainless steel, and steel. This multi-material joint material is such that two or more layers of different types of metal materials are joined, wherein the multi-material joint material is characterized in that: of the two or more layers of metal materials, at least one layer comprises a flame-retardant magnesium alloy, and another layer comprises a metal or alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, stainless steel, and steel; and the two or more layers of metal materials are joined together across the entire surface of joining surfaces that overlap each other.

 

US11534806 — ROLLING AND PREPARATION METHOD OF MAGNESIUM ALLOY SHEET — Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (China) — The present disclosure provides a high-efficient rolling process for magnesium alloy sheet. Parameters of the rolling process are: the rolling speed of each rolling pass is 10-50 m/min, the rolling reduction of each rolling pass is controlled to be 40-90%, and both the preheating temperature before rolling and the rolling temperature of each rolling pass are 250-450°C. The present disclosure also provides a preparation method for magnesium alloy sheet, comprising: 1) preparing rolling billets; 2) high-efficient hot rolling; and 3) performing annealing. The rolling process can improve mechanical properties especially, the strength and ductility of the sheet.

 

US11351585 — PREPARATION METHOD FOR A HIGH-STRENGTH EXTRUDED PROFILE OF MG—ZN—SN—MN ALLOY — Qilu University Of Technology Advanced Materials Institute and Shandong Academy Of Sciences (China) — A method for preparing a high-strength extruded profile of an Mg—Zn—Sn—Mn alloy is composed of a solid solution treatment at two stages to a billet, a high-temperature pre-aging to the billet, a low-temperature rapid extrusion and a low-temperature aging treatment to a profile. The Mg—Zn—Sn—Mn alloy includes the following elements in mass percent: 5.8-6.2% of Zn, 3.0-3.5% of Sn, 0.25-0.45% of Mn, unavoidable impurities of 0.05% or less, and the balance magnesium. The Mg—Zn—Sn—Mn magnesium alloy profile has a fine grain size of about 10-20 μm and a dispersed second phase, so a high strength and a good elongation can be obtained therein, and a tensile strength of 350 MPa or more, a yield strength of 280 MPa or more, and the elongation of 12% or more. In addition, the profile has a high extrusion production efficiency and a high yield, and a low extrusion cost, Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a new heat treatment and extrusion process, thus further enlarging the application range of magnesium alloys.

 

US11326241 — PLASTIC WROUGHT MAGNESIUM ALLOY AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF — CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd. (China) — The present disclosure provides a low-cost trace rare earth high-room-temperature-plasticity magnesium alloy and a preparation method thereof. The alloy is a novel Mg—Al—Bi—Sn—Ca—Y alloy, and a high-room-temperature-plasticity wrought magnesium alloy may be obtained by simple processing measures and has a room-temperature elongation rate of 32% or more. Meanwhile, the raw materials and processing are low in cost, and large batch production is easy to realize. A plastic wrought magnesium alloy includes a Mg—Al—Bi—Sn—Ca—Y alloy, prepared from the following chemical components in percentage by mass: 3 to 6.0% of Al, 1 to 3.0% of Bi, 0.5 to 2.0% of Sn, 0.02 to 0.05% of Ca, 0.02 to 0.05% of Y and the balance of Mg, in which the percentage sum of Ca and Y elements is more than 0.05% and less than 0.1%.

 

US11293080 — MAGNESIUM DIE CASTING ALLOY — Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, and SJ Tech Co., Ltd. (Korea) — It is difficult to use a conventional AZ91Dor AM60 magnesium alloy as an automotive electronic part due to, for example, low thermal conductivity (50 to 60 W/mK) and low electrical conductivity (10 to 12% IACS) as an automotive electronic part. Disclosed are a magnesium die casting alloy, and an alloy composition for improving thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. A magnesium die casting alloy includes an amount of about 0.5 to 2.0 wt. % of aluminum (Al) and the balance magnesium (Mg), based on the total weight of the magnesium die casting alloy. Accordingly, an alloy, which has high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity as compared to a conventional AZ91D magnesium alloy, is obtained.

 

US11268178 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY SHEET AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME — Posco (Korea) — An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a magnesium alloy sheet and a manufacturing method thereof. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a magnesium alloy sheet including 0.5 to 2.1 wt. % of Al, 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % of Zn, 0.1 to 1.0 wt. % of Ca, and a balance of Mg and inevitable impurities, with respect to a total of 100 wt. % of the magnesium alloy sheet. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a magnesium alloy sheet having excellent formability and a manufacturing method thereof. It is possible to provide an effective magnesium alloy sheet or plate which is commercially mass-producible, and a manufacturing method thereof.

 

US11268173 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY AND MAGNESIUM ALLOY MEMBER — Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and National University Corporation University of Toyama (Japan) — A magnesium alloy containing Al, Sr, Ca, and Mn, with the balance being Mg and inevitable impurities, the magnesium alloy having: a structure having an α-Mg phase, and a precipitate dispersed in at least one of a grain boundary of the α-Mg phase and a cell boundary, the precipitate including: at least one phase selected from a group A consisting of an Al2Sr phase, an Al4Sr phase, a (Mg, Al2Sr phase, and a (Mg, Al)4 Sr phase; and at least one phase selected from a group B consisting of an Al2Ca phase and a (Mg, Al)2Ca phase, the magnesium alloy having, in a cross section, a total area rate of a group A precipitate and a group B precipitate of greater than or equal to 2.5% and less than or equal to 30%.The magnesium alloy described is excellent in high-temperature strength, especially for automotive and aircraft components used at higher than normal temperature, for example, components installed near an engine may be used at a usage environment temperature of about 100°C to 180°C and require excellent strength at high temperatures.

 

US11198926 — ALLOYS AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME — Northwestern University (USA) — Despite the intrinsic light-weighting advantage of Mg, a serious limiting property of hexagonal Mg and its alloys are their poor ductility and formability at ambient temperature. Because of its hexagonal crystal structure, Mg and its current alloys crack easily and lack the needed ductility and formability at ambient temperature. n one aspect of the invention, an alloy includes a first element comprising magnesium (Mg) a second element comprising lithium (Li), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), or a combination thereof, and a third element comprising zinc (Zn). According to the invention, nanoscale precipitates are produced in the magnesium alloy by additions of zinc and specific heat-treatment. These precipitates lower the energy for dislocation movements and increase the number of available slip systems in the magnesium alloy at room temperature and hence improve ductility and formability of the magnesium alloy.

 

US11091823 — MAGNESIUM ALLOY SHEET AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF — Posco (Korea) — An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a magnesium alloy sheet and a manufacturing method thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a magnesium alloy sheet including 1.0 to 10.5 wt. % of Al, 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % of Zn, 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % of Ca, 0.03 to 1.0 wt. % of Y, 0.002 to 0.02 wt. % of Be, and a balance of Mg and inevitable impurities, with respect to a total of 100 wt. % of the magnesium alloy sheet, may be provided. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, corrosion resistance may be improved by controlling components and a composition of the magnesium alloy sheet.

Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,