This disclosure relates to the field of metallurgy, namely, to the composition of an aluminum-based heat-resistant alloy and a powder from it to be used for the production of parts using additive technologies. A new aluminum-based material has been created, which is intended for producing a powder and its utilisation in the additive production of various products, which has high processability at laser melting and high strength characteristics in the heat-treated state: the yield strength exceeding 400 MPa, the ultimate strength exceeding 470 MPa, and elongation at break of at least 4%. The powdered aluminum material contains copper, magnesium, manganese, cerium, silicon, zirconium and/or titanium, where the material contains thermally stable Al.sub.8Cu.sub.4Ce dispersoids with a size of less than 1 μm, which are formed at crystallisation rates of at least 10.sup.3 K/s, which contribute to the material strengthening under operating conditions at room and elevated temperatures.

This disclosure relates to the field of metallurgy, namely, to the composition of an aluminum-based heat-resistant alloy and a powder from it to be used for the production of parts using additive technologies. A new aluminum-based material has been created, which is intended for producing a powder and its utilisation in the additive production of various products, which has high processability at laser melting and high strength characteristics in the heat-treated state: the yield strength exceeding 400 MPa, the ultimate strength exceeding 470 MPa, and elongation at break of at least 4%. The powdered aluminum material contains copper, magnesium, manganese, cerium, silicon, zirconium and/or titanium, where the material contains thermally stable Al.sub.8Cu.sub.4Ce dispersoids with a size of less than 1 μm, which are formed at crystallisation rates of at least 10.sup.3 K/s, which contribute to the material strengthening under operating conditions at room and elevated temperatures.

An Al-based bearing alloy and a slide bearing incorporating the alloy exhibit high corrosion resistance and maintain high strength for a long period of time even in a high temperature environment. The Al-based bearing alloy and slide bearing includes an Al matrix, and acicular compounds which are needle-shaped that precipitate at a plurality of sites in a structure of the Al matrix, and that have a minor diameter and a major diameter.

An Al-based bearing alloy and a slide bearing incorporating the alloy exhibit high corrosion resistance and maintain high strength for a long period of time even in a high temperature environment. The Al-based bearing alloy and slide bearing includes an Al matrix, and acicular compounds which are needle-shaped that precipitate at a plurality of sites in a structure of the Al matrix, and that have a minor diameter and a major diameter.

Described are processes for shaping age hardenable aluminum alloys, such as 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys in T4 temper, or articles made of such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the sheet or article before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the sheet is heated to a specified temperature in the range of about 100-600° C. at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-600° C./s, for example about 3-90° C./s. Such a combination of temperature and heating rate results in an advantageous combination of sheet properties.

Described are processes for shaping age hardenable aluminum alloys, such as 2XXX, 6XXX and 7XXX aluminum alloys in T4 temper, or articles made of such alloys, including aluminum alloy sheets. The processes involve heating the sheet or article before and/or concurrently with a forming step. In some examples, the sheet is heated to a specified temperature in the range of about 100-600° C. at a specified heating rate within the range of about 3-600° C./s, for example about 3-90° C./s. Such a combination of temperature and heating rate results in an advantageous combination of sheet properties.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a thin sheet made from aluminum-based alloy comprising, as % by weight, 2.2 to 2.7% Cu, 1.3 to 1.6% Li, less than 0.1% Ag, 0.2 to 0.5% Mg, 0.1 to 0.5% Mn, 0.01 to 0.15% Ti, a quantity of Zn of less than 0.3, a quantity of Fe and of Si of less than or equal to 0.1% each, and unavoidable impurities with a content of less than or equal to 0.05% by weight each and 0.15% by weight in total, the remainder aluminum, wherein optionally the hot-rolling input temperature being between 400° C. and 460° C. and the hot-rolling output temperature being less than 300° C. and the mean heating speed during the solution heat treatment is at least approximately 17° C./min between 300° C. and 400° C., aging conditions such that the yield strength in the long-transverse direction Rp0.2 is between 350 and 380 MPa.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a thin sheet made from aluminum-based alloy comprising, as % by weight, 2.2 to 2.7% Cu, 1.3 to 1.6% Li, less than 0.1% Ag, 0.2 to 0.5% Mg, 0.1 to 0.5% Mn, 0.01 to 0.15% Ti, a quantity of Zn of less than 0.3, a quantity of Fe and of Si of less than or equal to 0.1% each, and unavoidable impurities with a content of less than or equal to 0.05% by weight each and 0.15% by weight in total, the remainder aluminum, wherein optionally the hot-rolling input temperature being between 400° C. and 460° C. and the hot-rolling output temperature being less than 300° C. and the mean heating speed during the solution heat treatment is at least approximately 17° C./min between 300° C. and 400° C., aging conditions such that the yield strength in the long-transverse direction Rp0.2 is between 350 and 380 MPa.

New aluminum alloys are disclosed and generally include 0.6-1.4 wt. % Si, 0.25-0.90 wt. % Mg, wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is from 1.05:1 to 5.0:1, 0.25-2.0 wt. % Cu, 0.10-3.5 wt. % Zn, 0.01-1.0 wt. % Fe, up to 0.8 wt. % Mn, up to 0.25 wt. % Cr, up to 0.20 wt. % Zr, up to 0.20 wt. % V, and up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, wherein the total of Fe+Mn+Cr+Zr+V+Ti is not greater than 2.0 wt. %, the balance being aluminum and impurities. The new aluminum alloys may include Q phase precipitates. In some embodiments, the solvus temperature of the Q phase precipitates is not greater than 950° F.

New aluminum alloys are disclosed and generally include 0.6-1.4 wt. % Si, 0.25-0.90 wt. % Mg, wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is from 1.05:1 to 5.0:1, 0.25-2.0 wt. % Cu, 0.10-3.5 wt. % Zn, 0.01-1.0 wt. % Fe, up to 0.8 wt. % Mn, up to 0.25 wt. % Cr, up to 0.20 wt. % Zr, up to 0.20 wt. % V, and up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, wherein the total of Fe+Mn+Cr+Zr+V+Ti is not greater than 2.0 wt. %, the balance being aluminum and impurities. The new aluminum alloys may include Q phase precipitates. In some embodiments, the solvus temperature of the Q phase precipitates is not greater than 950° F.