Forging of glassy aluminum-based alloys

Abstract

A forged devitrified aluminum alloy of forging devitrified aluminum alloys having a desired shape. The alloy is forged in a plane strain forging die with the axis of extrusion being parallel to the direction of forging. The alloy is then forged in a product forming forging die having a desired shape such that the original axis of extrusion is aligned with the axis of the forging die resulting in the desired shape

1 . A method of forging devitrified aluminum alloys, comprising the steps of:
 selecting a devitrified aluminum alloy billet having an axis of extrusion;   placing the billet in a plane strain forging die so the axis of extrusion is parallel to the direction of forging;   forging the billet in the plane strain forging die to elongate the billet in the horizontal direction;   removing the billet and placing it in a blocker die or series of blocker dies having a desired shape such that the original axis of extrusion is aligned with the axis of the forging die; and   forging the billet in the product forging final die to produce a forged billet having a desired shape.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plane strain forging die and product forging die during forging the billet is maintained at a temperature from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to 426.7° C.). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature ranges from about 675° F. to about 750° F. (357.2° C. to 398.9° C.) during forging the billet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plane strain forging is done at a press speed of from about 0.001 inches per second to 0.1 inches per second. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the billet during forging the billet is maintained at a temperature from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to 426.7° C.). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature ranges from about 700° F. to about 750° F. (371.1° C. to 398.9° C.) during forging the billet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the devitrified aluminum alloy is an aluminum based alloy containing from 3 to 18.5 atomic percent nickel and 3 to 14.0 atomic percent yttrium. 
     
     
         8 . A method of forging devitrified aluminum alloys, comprising the steps of:
 selecting a devitrified aluminum alloy billet having an axis of extrusion;   placing the billet in a plane strain forging die so the axis of extrusion is parallel to the direction of forging;   forging the billet in the plane strain forging die at a temperature of the die from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to 426.7° C.) to elongate the billet in the horizontal direction while maintaining the temperature of the billet at a temperature from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to 426.7° C.).;   removing the billet and placing it in a blocker die or series of blocker dies having a desired shape such that the original axis of extrusion is aligned with the axis of the forging die; and   forging the billet in the product forging final die at a temperature of the die from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to 426.7° C.) to produce a forged billet having a desired shape.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature of the die ranges from about 675° F. to about 750° F. (357.2° C. to 398.9° C.) during plane strain forging the billet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plane strain forging is done at a press speed of from about 0.001 inches per second to 0.1 inches per second. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature of the billet ranges from about 700° F. to about 750° F. (371.1° C. to 398.9° C.) during plane strain forging the billet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the devitrified aluminum alloy is an aluminum based alloy containing from 3 to 18.5 atomic percent nickel and 3 to 14.0 atomic percent yttrium. 
     
     
         13 . A forged devitrified aluminum alloy made according to the method of clam  8 . 
     
     
         14 . A forged devitrified aluminum alloy of forging devitrified aluminum alloys having a desired shape, comprising:
 a devitrified aluminum alloy billet having an axis of extrusion;   the alloy being forged in a plane strain forging die so the axis of extrusion is parallel to the direction of forging;   the billet being elongated in the horizontal direction; and   the billet further being forged in a product forming forging die having a desired shape such that the original axis of extrusion is aligned with the axis of the forging die resulting in the desired shape.   
     
     
         15 . The forged devitrified aluminum alloy of  claim 14 , wherein the plane strain forging die and the product forging during forging the billet is maintained at a temperature from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to 426.7° C.). 
     
     
         16 . The forged devitrified aluminum alloy of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature ranges from about 675° F. to about 750° F. (357.2° C. to 398.9° C.) during plane strain forging the billet. 
     
     
         17 . The forged devitrified aluminum alloy of  claim 14 , wherein the plane strain forging is done at a press speed of from about 0.001 inches per second to 0.1 inches per second. 
     
     
         18 . The forged devitrified aluminum alloy of  claim 14 , wherein the billet during forging the billet is maintained at a temperature from about 500° F. to about 800° F. (260° C. to (426.7° C.). 
     
     
         19 . The forged devitrified aluminum alloy of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature ranges from about 700° F. to about 750° F. (371.1° C. to 398.9° C.) during plane strain forging the billet. 
     
     
         20 . The forged devitrified aluminum alloy of  claim 14 , wherein the devitrified aluminum alloy is an aluminum based alloy containing from 3 to 18.5 atomic percent nickel and 3 to 14.0 atomic percent yttrium.