Aluminum-based alloy composition and method of making extruded components from aluminum-based alloy compositions

Abstract

The present invention involves an aluminum-based alloy composition for vehicle components. The composition consists essentially of between about 0.15 to 0.6% weight silicon to provide recrystallization, between about 0.2 to 0.7% weight iron, between about 0.4 to 0.6% weight copper, between about 1.1 to 1.4% weight manganese, between about 0.15 to 0.3% weight magnesium, between about 0.15 to 0.4% weight zinc, between about 0.1 to 0.15% weight zirconium, and the balance aluminum.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to aluminum alloy compositions and methods of making extruded components from aluminum alloy compositions using conform extrusion. [0002] Extrusion processes have been common practice for several years in various industries for hot forming of aluminum alloys. The extrusion of aluminum has been termed one of the most versatile processes known. Its many applications in everyday use prove the versatility of both the process and the metal. [0003] Conventional extrusion involves casting the material in long logs, and removed from the cast and cut into billet lengths of between about 24 to 36 inches each. The billets are then placed in a heating process typically called homogenizing. During the homogenizing process, the non-aluminum elements of the billets are dissolved and brought to desirable discrete bodies with the aluminum. To produce an aluminum extrusion, a cylindrical ingot is preheated to a temperature of around 450...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an alloy composition that improves corrosion resistance and reduces die wear during die usage. This is achieved by adding predetermined levels of copper, zirconium, manganese, and silicon to the alloy. The addition of a balanced proportion of zinc, magnesium, and silicon results in creating a relatively large number of small grain size after the brazing operation. The alloy composition includes between 0.15 to 0.6 wt% silicon for recrystallization, between 0.2 to 0.7 wt% iron, between 0.4 to 0.6 wt% copper, between 1.1 to 1.4% wt% manganese, between 0.15 to 0.3% wt% magnesium, between 0.15 to 0.4% wt% zinc, between 0.1 to 0.15% wt% zirconium, and the balance aluminum. The method includes pressing the alloy composition, forming a formable alloy composition, and propelling the formable alloy composition through a die to a predetermined configuration of the aluminum-based heat exchanger tube.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, an addition of a predetermined balanced proportion of zinc, magnesium and silicon to the alloy results in creating a relatively large number of small grain size after the brazing operation.

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