Accelerated solution treatment process for aluminum alloys
US7967925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC22C21/04
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of providing solution heat treatment to an aluminum alloy. A non-isothermal process is used to provide a faster heat treatment cycle time while maintaining or further improving the alloy mechanical properties after subsequent aging hardening. The process includes establishing a temperature inside a processing vessel that is greater than a soaking temperature but less than a liquidus temperature of the alloy, rapidly heating the alloy to the soaking temperature in a first heating operation, reducing the temperature inside of the processing vessel to the soaking temperature, then heating the alloy to a temperature above the soaking temperature through a gradually increasing temperature in a second heating operation. Protocols for the improved solution heat treatment may be based on one or more of computational thermodynamics, dissolution kinetics and coarsening kinetics.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.