New methods of making cold formed, extruded aluminum lithium alloys, and unrecrystallized products made therefrom are disclosed. A method may include one or more of heating an unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product to a treatment temperature, cooling the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product from the treatment temperature to a post-treatment temperature, and cold forming the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product into a second product form. Due to the unique processing conditions of the method, the second product form may wholly or partially retain the unrecrystallized microstructure.

New methods of making cold formed, extruded aluminum lithium alloys, and unrecrystallized products made therefrom are disclosed. A method may include one or more of heating an unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product to a treatment temperature, cooling the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product from the treatment temperature to a post-treatment temperature, and cold forming the unrecrystallized extruded aluminum-lithium product into a second product form. Due to the unique processing conditions of the method, the second product form may wholly or partially retain the unrecrystallized microstructure.

A method of thermomagnetically processing an aluminum alloy entails heat treating an aluminum alloy, and applying a high field strength magnetic field of at least about 2 Tesla to the aluminum alloy during the heat treating. The heat treating and the application of the high field strength magnetic field are carried out for a treatment time sufficient to achieve a predetermined standard strength of the aluminum alloy, and the treatment time is reduced by at least about 50% compared to heat treating the aluminum alloy without the magnetic field.

A method of thermomagnetically processing an aluminum alloy entails heat treating an aluminum alloy, and applying a high field strength magnetic field of at least about 2 Tesla to the aluminum alloy during the heat treating. The heat treating and the application of the high field strength magnetic field are carried out for a treatment time sufficient to achieve a predetermined standard strength of the aluminum alloy, and the treatment time is reduced by at least about 50% compared to heat treating the aluminum alloy without the magnetic field.

The invention relates to a rolled composite aerospace product (10) comprising a 2XXX-series core layer (20), preferably an AA2024-series aluminium alloy, and an Al—Mn alloy layer (30) coupled to at least one surface of the 2XXX-series core layer, and wherein the Al—Mn alloy layer (30) is of a 3XXX-series aluminium alloy comprising 0.3% to 2.0% Mn.

The invention relates to a rolled composite aerospace product (10) comprising a 2XXX-series core layer (20), preferably an AA2024-series aluminium alloy, and an Al—Mn alloy layer (30) coupled to at least one surface of the 2XXX-series core layer, and wherein the Al—Mn alloy layer (30) is of a 3XXX-series aluminium alloy comprising 0.3% to 2.0% Mn.

New 2xxx aluminum alloys having are disclosed. The new 2xxx aluminum alloys generally include 2.5-3.9 wt. % Cu, 0.82-1.20 wt. % Li, 0.5-2.0 wt. % Zn, 0.10-0.60 wt. % Mn, 0.05-0.35 wt. % Mg, from 0.05 to 0.50 wt. % of at least one grain structure control element, wherein the at least one grain structure control element is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Cr, V, Hf, other rare earth elements, and combinations thereof, up to 0.22 wt. % Ag, up to 0.15 wt. % Fe, up to 0.12 wt. % Si, and up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, the balance being aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. The new 2xxx aluminum alloys may realize an improved combination of two or more of strength, fracture toughness, elongation, and corrosion resistance.

New 2xxx aluminum alloys having are disclosed. The new 2xxx aluminum alloys generally include 2.5-3.9 wt. % Cu, 0.82-1.20 wt. % Li, 0.5-2.0 wt. % Zn, 0.10-0.60 wt. % Mn, 0.05-0.35 wt. % Mg, from 0.05 to 0.50 wt. % of at least one grain structure control element, wherein the at least one grain structure control element is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Cr, V, Hf, other rare earth elements, and combinations thereof, up to 0.22 wt. % Ag, up to 0.15 wt. % Fe, up to 0.12 wt. % Si, and up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, the balance being aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. The new 2xxx aluminum alloys may realize an improved combination of two or more of strength, fracture toughness, elongation, and corrosion resistance.

The invention relates to a thin metal sheet which is made of an alloy based on substantially recrystallized aluminum and which has a thickness of 0.25 to 12 mm, the alloy comprising, in percent by weight, Cu 3.4-4.0; Mg 0.5-0.8; Mn 0.1-0.7; Fe #0.15; Si #0.15; Zr #0.04; Ag #0.65; Zn #0.5; inevitable impurities #0.05 each and #0.15 in total, the remainder consisting of aluminum. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a metal sheet and to the use thereof as a fuselage panel or sheet metal for the production of composite products such as fiber metal laminates (FML) for wing or fuselage applications in the aeronautical industry.

The invention relates to a thin metal sheet which is made of an alloy based on substantially recrystallized aluminum and which has a thickness of 0.25 to 12 mm, the alloy comprising, in percent by weight, Cu 3.4-4.0; Mg 0.5-0.8; Mn 0.1-0.7; Fe #0.15; Si #0.15; Zr #0.04; Ag #0.65; Zn #0.5; inevitable impurities #0.05 each and #0.15 in total, the remainder consisting of aluminum. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a metal sheet and to the use thereof as a fuselage panel or sheet metal for the production of composite products such as fiber metal laminates (FML) for wing or fuselage applications in the aeronautical industry.