An aluminum alloy contains at least 0.03 mass % and at most 1.5 mass % of Mg, at least 0.02 mass % and at most 2.0 mass % of Si, and a remainder composed of Al and an inevitable impurity, a mass ratio Mg/Si being not lower than 0.5 and not higher than 3.5. In a transverse section of the aluminum alloy wire, a rectangular surface-layer void measurement region having a short side of 30 μm long and a long side of 50 μm long is taken from a surface-layer region extending by up to 30 μm in a direction of depth from a surface of the aluminum alloy wire. A total cross-sectional area of voids present in the surface-layer void measurement region is not greater than 2 μm.sup.2.

An aluminum alloy material exhibiting excellent bendability can be produced without performing a straightening step, and can be bent without developing orange peel. The aluminum alloy material is a T4-tempered material formed of an Al—Cu—Mg—Si alloy including 1.0 to 2.5 mass % of Cu, 0.5 to 1.5 mass % of Mg, and 0.5 to 1.5 mass % of Si, with the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities, a matrix that forms an inner part of the aluminum alloy material having a microstructure formed by recrystallized grains having an average crystal grain size of 200 μm or less, and the aluminum alloy material having a ratio of tensile strength/yield strength determined by a tensile test of 1.5 or more.

An aluminum alloy material exhibiting excellent bendability can be produced without performing a straightening step, and can be bent without developing orange peel. The aluminum alloy material is a T4-tempered material formed of an Al—Cu—Mg—Si alloy including 1.0 to 2.5 mass % of Cu, 0.5 to 1.5 mass % of Mg, and 0.5 to 1.5 mass % of Si, with the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities, a matrix that forms an inner part of the aluminum alloy material having a microstructure formed by recrystallized grains having an average crystal grain size of 200 μm or less, and the aluminum alloy material having a ratio of tensile strength/yield strength determined by a tensile test of 1.5 or more.

Aluminum alloy components having improved properties. In one form, the cast alloy component may include about 0.6 to about 14.5 wt % silicon, 0 to about 0.7 wt % iron, about 1.8 about 4.3 wt % copper, 0 to about 1.22 wt % manganese, about 0.2 to about 0.5 wt % magnesium, 0 to about 1.2 wt % zinc, 0 to about 3.25 wt % nickel, 0 to about 0.3 wt % chromium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % tin, about 0.0001 to about 0.4 wt % titanium, about 0.002 to about 0.07 wt % boron, about 0.001 to about 0.07 wt % zirconium, about 0.001 to about 0.14 wt % vanadium, 0 to about 0.67 wt % lanthanum, and the balance predominantly aluminum plus any remainders. Further, the weight ratio of Mn/Fe is between about 0.5 and about 3.5. Methods of making cast aluminum parts are also described.

Aluminum alloy components having improved properties. In one form, the cast alloy component may include about 0.6 to about 14.5 wt % silicon, 0 to about 0.7 wt % iron, about 1.8 about 4.3 wt % copper, 0 to about 1.22 wt % manganese, about 0.2 to about 0.5 wt % magnesium, 0 to about 1.2 wt % zinc, 0 to about 3.25 wt % nickel, 0 to about 0.3 wt % chromium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % tin, about 0.0001 to about 0.4 wt % titanium, about 0.002 to about 0.07 wt % boron, about 0.001 to about 0.07 wt % zirconium, about 0.001 to about 0.14 wt % vanadium, 0 to about 0.67 wt % lanthanum, and the balance predominantly aluminum plus any remainders. Further, the weight ratio of Mn/Fe is between about 0.5 and about 3.5. Methods of making cast aluminum parts are also described.

Provided herein are new aluminum alloy materials which are useful in replacing copper in a heat exchanger. The aluminum alloy materials are also useful in manufacturing components of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems for indoor and outdoor units. The alloys are well-suited for tubing in a heat exchanger. The alloys display high strength and good corrosion resistance. Also provided herein are methods for making the aluminum alloy materials.

The invention relates to an aluminum alloy strip with improved surface optics, which is fabricated via hot and/or cold rolling, and consists of a type AA 3xxx, AA 5xxx, AA 6xxx or AA 8xxx aluminum alloy. The object of proposing an aluminum alloy strip that is suitable for attractive and precious surface optics despite the elevated percentage of alloy constituents is achieved in that, after degreasing, the finish-rolled aluminum alloy strip exhibits an increase in the luminance value L*(ΔL) in relation to the rolled-greasy state of more than 5 while measuring the color of the surface in the CIE L*a*b* color space using a standard illuminant D65 and a normal observation angle of 10°, excluding direct reflection in 45°/0° geometry.

The invention relates to an aluminum alloy strip with improved surface optics, which is fabricated via hot and/or cold rolling, and consists of a type AA 3xxx, AA 5xxx, AA 6xxx or AA 8xxx aluminum alloy. The object of proposing an aluminum alloy strip that is suitable for attractive and precious surface optics despite the elevated percentage of alloy constituents is achieved in that, after degreasing, the finish-rolled aluminum alloy strip exhibits an increase in the luminance value L*(ΔL) in relation to the rolled-greasy state of more than 5 while measuring the color of the surface in the CIE L*a*b* color space using a standard illuminant D65 and a normal observation angle of 10°, excluding direct reflection in 45°/0° geometry.

A method of forming a crack-free aluminum alloy structure using additive manufacturing is presented. A powder bed of precursor aluminum alloy powder is heated. The crack-free aluminum alloy structure is formed within a laser powder bed fusion system encompassing the powder bed during heating.

A method of forming a crack-free aluminum alloy structure using additive manufacturing is presented. A powder bed of precursor aluminum alloy powder is heated. The crack-free aluminum alloy structure is formed within a laser powder bed fusion system encompassing the powder bed during heating.