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.

An aluminum alloy thick plate is formed of an aluminum alloy including Mg of 2.0 to 5.0 mass %, and has a plate thickness of 300 to 400 mm. A is 700 pieces/cm.sup.2 or less and B is 1.3 times or more as large as A, where (i) A (pieces/cm.sup.2) is a maximum value in numbers of crystallized products with a maximum length of 60 μm or more per unit area in each of positions located at a center portion in a thickness direction and at positions of 0.39 Wa to 0.48 Wa in a plate width direction; and (ii) B (pieces/cm.sup.2) is a maximum value in numbers of crystallized products with a maximum length of 60 μm or more per unit area in each of positions located at the center portion in the thickness direction and at positions of 0.12 Wa to 0.30 Wa in the plate width direction.

An aluminum alloy thick plate is formed of an aluminum alloy including Mg of 2.0 to 5.0 mass %, and has a plate thickness of 300 to 400 mm. A is 700 pieces/cm.sup.2 or less and B is 1.3 times or more as large as A, where (i) A (pieces/cm.sup.2) is a maximum value in numbers of crystallized products with a maximum length of 60 μm or more per unit area in each of positions located at a center portion in a thickness direction and at positions of 0.39 Wa to 0.48 Wa in a plate width direction; and (ii) B (pieces/cm.sup.2) is a maximum value in numbers of crystallized products with a maximum length of 60 μm or more per unit area in each of positions located at the center portion in the thickness direction and at positions of 0.12 Wa to 0.30 Wa in the plate width direction.

An alloy formed of aluminum, nickel, scandium and optionally one, two or more further metals. The aluminum alloy is suitable for additive manufacturing of lightweight highly thermally conductive components for aircraft, such as heat exchangers. In a first step, a powder of the described aluminum alloy is produced by additive manufacturing, such as laser melting in the L-PBF process. Large grains are able to grow epitaxially along the build direction thereby increasing phonon and electron mobility along the build direction. With this, a higher thermal conductivity can be achieved. In a second step, the preliminary part is hardened by precipitation of secondary phases at 250 to 400 C to form the hardened part. 3D-printed lightweight parts with high thermal conductivity are obtained.

An aluminum alloy brazing sheet has a 3XXX, 1XXX or 6XXX core, an interliner and a 4XXX brazing layer without added Mg. The interliner has Bi and Mg, the magnesium migrating to the surface of the brazing sheet during brazing and reducing the aluminum oxide to facilitate brazing without flux in a controlled inert atmosphere with reduced oxygen.

A method for forming a 2-dimensional pattern or 3-dimensional object using an aluminum (Al) 5xxx series alloy includes providing a feedstock that includes the Al 5xxx alloy. The method further includes depositing, using an additive manufacturing process, the feedstock under thermal conditions that permit formation of the pattern or object. The method further includes adjusting a parameter of the additive manufacturing process during the depositing.

A method for forming a 2-dimensional pattern or 3-dimensional object using an aluminum (Al) 5xxx series alloy includes providing a feedstock that includes the Al 5xxx alloy. The method further includes depositing, using an additive manufacturing process, the feedstock under thermal conditions that permit formation of the pattern or object. The method further includes adjusting a parameter of the additive manufacturing process during the depositing.

Described herein are aluminum alloy products for packaging and/or producing a beverage. The aluminum alloy products include beverage capsules. The aluminum alloy products can include a 3xxx series aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy products can include at least 50 wt. % recycled aluminum. Also described herein are methods for processing the aluminum alloys to produce beverage capsules and other packaging products.

Described herein are aluminum alloy products for packaging and/or producing a beverage. The aluminum alloy products include beverage capsules. The aluminum alloy products can include a 3xxx series aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy products can include at least 50 wt. % recycled aluminum. Also described herein are methods for processing the aluminum alloys to produce beverage capsules and other packaging products.