Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a 6xxx aluminum alloy having: silicon (Si) in an amount of 0.70 wt % to 1.1 wt % based on a total weight of the 6xxx aluminum alloy; magnesium (Mg) in an amount of 0.75 wt % to 1.15 wt % based on the total weight of the 6xxx aluminum alloy; a weight ratio of Mg to Si in the 6xxx aluminum alloy from 0.68:1.0 to 1.65:1.0; and copper (Cu) in an amount of 0.30 wt % to 0.8 wt % based on the total weight of the 6xxx aluminum alloy. Some embodiments of the present disclosure further relate to a method including steps of: casting an exemplary 6xxx aluminum alloy, homogenizing the exemplary 6xxx aluminum alloy; extruding the exemplary 6xxx aluminum alloy; and aging the 6xxx aluminum alloy.

The present invention relates to extrusions for structural components, such as bumper, side impact beam, seat sill in vehicles and more particularly to a method for optimizing strength and energy absorption of 6XXX aluminium alloys extrusions by variations in thermomechanical ageing (TMA) consisting in i) an artificial preageing treatment with a duration t1 at a temperature T1 selected to increase the yield strength of said extrusion between 5% and 20%, said temperature T1 being typically between 120° C. and 180° C. and said duration t1 being typically between 1 and 100 hours, to obtain an artificially preaged extrusion, ii) a plastic deformation of said artificially preaged extrusion between 1% and 80% to obtain a deformed extrusion, iii) a final artificial ageing treatment of said deformed extrusion with a duration t2 at a temperature T2, said temperature T2 being typically between 140° C. and 200° C. and said the duration t2 being typically between 1 and 100 hours.

The present invention relates to extrusions for structural components, such as bumper, side impact beam, seat sill in vehicles and more particularly to a method for optimizing strength and energy absorption of 6XXX aluminium alloys extrusions by variations in thermomechanical ageing (TMA) consisting in i) an artificial preageing treatment with a duration t1 at a temperature T1 selected to increase the yield strength of said extrusion between 5% and 20%, said temperature T1 being typically between 120° C. and 180° C. and said duration t1 being typically between 1 and 100 hours, to obtain an artificially preaged extrusion, ii) a plastic deformation of said artificially preaged extrusion between 1% and 80% to obtain a deformed extrusion, iii) a final artificial ageing treatment of said deformed extrusion with a duration t2 at a temperature T2, said temperature T2 being typically between 140° C. and 200° C. and said the duration t2 being typically between 1 and 100 hours.

Described herein is a method of manufacturing an aluminium alloy plate for vacuum chamber elements, valves, or total assemblies, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rolling feedstock material of an Al—Mg—Si aluminium alloy having a composition comprising of, in wt. %, Mg 0.80%-1.05%, Si 0.70%-1.0%, Mn 0.70%-0.90%, Fe up to 0.20%, Zn up to 0.08%, Cu up to 0.05%, Cr up to 0.03%, Ti up to 0.06%, unavoidable impurities and balance aluminium; (b) homogenizing of the rolling feedstock at a temperature in a range of 550-595° C.; (c) hot-rolling of the homogenized rolling feedstock in one or more rolling steps to a hot-rolled plate having a thickness of at least 10 mm; (d) solution heat-treatment (SHT″) of the hot rolled plate at a temperature in a range of 540-590° C.; (e) rapid cooling the SHT plate; (f) stretching of the cooled SHT plate to obtain a permanent elongation from 1-5%; (g) artificial ageing of the stretched plate.

Described herein is a method of manufacturing an aluminium alloy plate for vacuum chamber elements, valves, or total assemblies, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rolling feedstock material of an Al—Mg—Si aluminium alloy having a composition comprising of, in wt. %, Mg 0.80%-1.05%, Si 0.70%-1.0%, Mn 0.70%-0.90%, Fe up to 0.20%, Zn up to 0.08%, Cu up to 0.05%, Cr up to 0.03%, Ti up to 0.06%, unavoidable impurities and balance aluminium; (b) homogenizing of the rolling feedstock at a temperature in a range of 550-595° C.; (c) hot-rolling of the homogenized rolling feedstock in one or more rolling steps to a hot-rolled plate having a thickness of at least 10 mm; (d) solution heat-treatment (SHT″) of the hot rolled plate at a temperature in a range of 540-590° C.; (e) rapid cooling the SHT plate; (f) stretching of the cooled SHT plate to obtain a permanent elongation from 1-5%; (g) artificial ageing of the stretched plate.

Systems and methods for quenching an extrudate using an atomized spray of liquid are described. A system includes a billet die at a proximal end configured to accept a billet and form an extrudate, a quench chamber located adjacent to the billet die for receiving the extrudate and comprising at least one pulsed width modulation (PWM) atomizing spray nozzle and a control module in communication with the at least one PWM atomizing spray nozzle and configured to independently control a liquid pressure, a gas pressure, a spray frequency, a duty cycle and flow rate of each at least one PWM atomizing spray nozzle.

Systems and methods for quenching an extrudate using an atomized spray of liquid are described. A system includes a billet die at a proximal end configured to accept a billet and form an extrudate, a quench chamber located adjacent to the billet die for receiving the extrudate and comprising at least one pulsed width modulation (PWM) atomizing spray nozzle and a control module in communication with the at least one PWM atomizing spray nozzle and configured to independently control a liquid pressure, a gas pressure, a spray frequency, a duty cycle and flow rate of each at least one PWM atomizing spray nozzle.

A manufacturing process for obtaining extruded products made from a 6xxx aluminium alloy, wherein the said manufacturing process comprises following steps: a) homogenizing a billet cast from said aluminium alloy; b) heating the said homogenised cast billet; c) extruding the said billet through a die to form at least a solid or hollow extruded product; d) quenching the extruded product down to room temperature; e) optionally stretching the extruded product to obtain a plastic deformation typically between 0.5% and 5%; f) ageing the extruded product without applying on the extruded product any separate post-extrusion solution heat treatment between steps d) and f). characterised in that: i) the heating step b) is a solution heat treatment where: b1) the cast billet is heated to a temperature between Ts-15° C. and Ts, wherein Ts is the solidus temperature of the said aluminium alloy; b2) the billet is cooled until billet mean temperature reaches a value between 400° C. and 480° C. while ensuring billet surface never goes below a temperature substantially close to 400° C.; ii) the billet thus cooled is immediately extruded (step c)), i.e. a few tens seconds after the end of step b2).

A manufacturing process for obtaining extruded products made from a 6xxx aluminium alloy, wherein the said manufacturing process comprises following steps: a) homogenizing a billet cast from said aluminium alloy; b) heating the said homogenised cast billet; c) extruding the said billet through a die to form at least a solid or hollow extruded product; d) quenching the extruded product down to room temperature; e) optionally stretching the extruded product to obtain a plastic deformation typically between 0.5% and 5%; f) ageing the extruded product without applying on the extruded product any separate post-extrusion solution heat treatment between steps d) and f). characterised in that: i) the heating step b) is a solution heat treatment where: b1) the cast billet is heated to a temperature between Ts-15° C. and Ts, wherein Ts is the solidus temperature of the said aluminium alloy; b2) the billet is cooled until billet mean temperature reaches a value between 400° C. and 480° C. while ensuring billet surface never goes below a temperature substantially close to 400° C.; ii) the billet thus cooled is immediately extruded (step c)), i.e. a few tens seconds after the end of step b2).

Aluminium alloys suitable for etched and anodized components, in particular aluminum extrusion alloys of the types containing Magnesium and Silicon, which after being extruded to any wide variety of forms for different applications such as house buildings and other building applications is subjected to etching in a conventional alkaline etching bath and subsequent anodizing, wherein the relation between Cu and Zn is controlled to avoid preferential grain etching and the ratio of Cu/Zn is below 1.