The invention relates to a product made of an aluminium-based alloy comprising, by wt. %, Cu: 2.4-3.2; Li: 1.6-2.3; Mg: 0.3-0.9; Mn: 0.2-0.6; Zr: 0.12-0.18; such that Zr≥−0.06 *Li+0.242; Zn: <1.0; Ag: <0.15; Fe+Si≤0.20; optionally, at least one element selected from Ti, Sc, Cr, Hf and V, the content of the element, if selected, being: Ti: 0.01-0.1; Sc: 0.01-0.15; Cr: 0.01-0.3; Hf: 0.01-0.5; V: 0.01-0.3; other elements ≤0.05 each and ≤0.15 in total; the remainder being aluminium. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an as-cast aluminum alloy product according to the invention, comprising the following steps: preparing a liquid metal bath; casting an as-cast shape from said liquid metal bath; and solidifying the as-cast shape into a billet, a rolling plate or a forging blank; characterised in that the casting is performed without adding any grain refiner, or by adding a refiner comprising (i) Ti and (ii) B or C, such that the content of B from the refiner is less than 45 ppm, and that of C is less than 6 ppm, and/or characterised in that the casting is carried out, for an as-cast shape of thickness E or with a diameter D greater than 150 mm, at a casting rate v (mm/min) greater than 30 for a plate-type as-cast shape or 9000/D for a billet-type as-cast shape.

The invention relates to a product made of an aluminium-based alloy comprising, by wt. %, Cu: 2.4-3.2; Li: 1.6-2.3; Mg: 0.3-0.9; Mn: 0.2-0.6; Zr: 0.12-0.18; such that Zr≥−0.06 *Li+0.242; Zn: <1.0; Ag: <0.15; Fe+Si≤0.20; optionally, at least one element selected from Ti, Sc, Cr, Hf and V, the content of the element, if selected, being: Ti: 0.01-0.1; Sc: 0.01-0.15; Cr: 0.01-0.3; Hf: 0.01-0.5; V: 0.01-0.3; other elements ≤0.05 each and ≤0.15 in total; the remainder being aluminium. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an as-cast aluminum alloy product according to the invention, comprising the following steps: preparing a liquid metal bath; casting an as-cast shape from said liquid metal bath; and solidifying the as-cast shape into a billet, a rolling plate or a forging blank; characterised in that the casting is performed without adding any grain refiner, or by adding a refiner comprising (i) Ti and (ii) B or C, such that the content of B from the refiner is less than 45 ppm, and that of C is less than 6 ppm, and/or characterised in that the casting is carried out, for an as-cast shape of thickness E or with a diameter D greater than 150 mm, at a casting rate v (mm/min) greater than 30 for a plate-type as-cast shape or 9000/D for a billet-type as-cast shape.

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 producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, comprising: providing an aluminum alloy plate with a thickness of at least 38.1 mm, wherein the plate is a 2xxx-series alloy in a T3-temper and has a composition comprising, in wt. %: Cu 3.8-4.5, Mn 0.3-0.8, Mg 1.1-1.6, Si up to 0.15, Fe up to 0.20, Cr up to 0.10, Zn up to 0.25, Ti up to 0.15, Ag up to 0.10, balance aluminum; optionally pre-machining the plate to an intermediate machined structure; high-energy hydroforming the plate or intermediate structure against a rigid die forming surface having a desired curvature contour of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, causing the plate or the intermediate structure to conform to the forming surface contour; machining or mechanical milling the high-energy formed structure to a near-final or final machined integrated monolithic aluminum structure; ageing the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure to a desired temper.

A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, comprising: providing an aluminum alloy plate with a thickness of at least 38.1 mm, wherein the plate is a 2xxx-series alloy in a T3-temper and has a composition comprising, in wt. %: Cu 3.8-4.5, Mn 0.3-0.8, Mg 1.1-1.6, Si up to 0.15, Fe up to 0.20, Cr up to 0.10, Zn up to 0.25, Ti up to 0.15, Ag up to 0.10, balance aluminum; optionally pre-machining the plate to an intermediate machined structure; high-energy hydroforming the plate or intermediate structure against a rigid die forming surface having a desired curvature contour of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, causing the plate or the intermediate structure to conform to the forming surface contour; machining or mechanical milling the high-energy formed structure to a near-final or final machined integrated monolithic aluminum structure; ageing the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure to a desired temper.

The present disclosure concerns embodiments of aluminum alloy compositions exhibiting microstructural stability and strength at high temperatures. The disclosed aluminum alloy compositions comprise particular combinations of components that contribute the ability of the compositions to exhibit improved microstructural stability and hot tearing resistance as compared to conventional alloys. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of methods of making and using the alloys.

The present disclosure concerns embodiments of aluminum alloy compositions exhibiting microstructural stability and strength at high temperatures. The disclosed aluminum alloy compositions comprise particular combinations of components that contribute the ability of the compositions to exhibit improved microstructural stability and hot tearing resistance as compared to conventional alloys. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of methods of making and using the alloys.

Multilayered brazing sheet material including an aluminium core alloy layer having a first brazing clad layer material on one face of the core layer and a second brazing clad layer material on the other face of the core material, and an inter-layer between the core layer and the first brazing clad layer material, wherein the core layer is 3xxx-series aluminium alloy having, in wt. %, up to 0.4% Si, up to 0.5% Fe, 0.4% to 0.75% Cu, 0.6% to 1.1% Mn, up to 0.04% Mg, up to 0.2% Cr, up to 0.25% Zr, up to 0.2% Ti, up to 0.15% Zn, balance aluminium and impurities, wherein the first brazing layer and the second brazing layer are 4xxx-series aluminium alloy having 7% to 14% Si and up to 2% Mg, balance aluminium and impurities, and wherein the inter-layer is aluminium alloy of the 1xxx-series alloys.

Multilayered brazing sheet material including an aluminium core alloy layer having a first brazing clad layer material on one face of the core layer and a second brazing clad layer material on the other face of the core material, and an inter-layer between the core layer and the first brazing clad layer material, wherein the core layer is 3xxx-series aluminium alloy having, in wt. %, up to 0.4% Si, up to 0.5% Fe, 0.4% to 0.75% Cu, 0.6% to 1.1% Mn, up to 0.04% Mg, up to 0.2% Cr, up to 0.25% Zr, up to 0.2% Ti, up to 0.15% Zn, balance aluminium and impurities, wherein the first brazing layer and the second brazing layer are 4xxx-series aluminium alloy having 7% to 14% Si and up to 2% Mg, balance aluminium and impurities, and wherein the inter-layer is aluminium alloy of the 1xxx-series alloys.