High strength forged aluminum alloy products

Abstract

High strength forged aluminum alloys and methods for producing the same are disclosed. The forged aluminum alloy products may have grains having a high aspect ratio in at least two planes, generally the L-ST and the LT-ST planes. The forged aluminum alloy products may also have a high amount of texture. The forged products may realize increased strength relative to conventionally prepared forged products of comparable product form, composition and temper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A forged aluminum alloy product comprising a crystalline microstructure having grains, wherein the grains include first type grains and second type grains, wherein the crystalline microstructure comprises from about 5 vol. % to about 50 vol. % of the first type grains, wherein the first type grains at least include representative first grains, and wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 3.5:1 in the LT-ST plane. 
     
     
         2 . The forged aluminum alloy product of  claim 1 , wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 in the L-ST plane. 
     
     
         3 . The forged aluminum alloy product of  claim 1 , wherein the forged aluminum alloy product realizes a maximum ODF intensity of at least about 30. 
     
     
         4 . The forged aluminum alloy product of  claim 1 , wherein a (111) pole figure of the forged aluminum alloy product comprises a plurality of maximum intensity representations, and wherein the maximum intensity representations are substantially symmetrical. 
     
     
         5 . The forged aluminum alloy product of  claim 1 , wherein the forged aluminum alloy product realizes at least about 5% higher tensile yield strength in the longitudinal (L) direction relative to a conventionally-forged aluminum alloy product of comparable product form, composition and temper. 
     
     
         6 . The forged aluminum alloy product of  claim 5 , wherein the forged aluminum alloy product realizes at least about 5% higher tensile yield strength in the long transverse (LT) direction relative to a conventionally-forged aluminum alloy product of comparable product form, composition and temper. 
     
     
         7 . The forged aluminum alloy product of  claim 5 , wherein the forged aluminum alloy product comprises a 2xxx aluminum alloy with up to 2.0 wt. % Li. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 (a) extruding an aluminum alloy into an extruded product, wherein the extruded product has an extruded maximum ODF intensity;   (b) forging the extruded product into a forged product, wherein the forging comprises:
 (i) hot working the extruded product into the forged product; and 
 (ii) solution heat treating the forged product;
 wherein, after the solution heat treating step, the forged product realizes a maximum ODF intensity that is at least equivalent to the extruded maximum ODF intensity. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the extruded product comprises an initial volume of first type grains, wherein the forged product comprises a final volume of first type grains, wherein the final volume of first type grains exceeds the initial volume of first type grains, and wherein the hot working step comprises:
 applying heat and strain to the extruded product such that the amount of first type grains does not exceed 50 vol. % in the forged product.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first type grains of the forged product at least includes representative first grains, and wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 3.5:1 in the LT-ST plane. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 in the L-ST plane. 
     
     
         12 . A forged product made of a 7×55 aluminum alloy, wherein the forged product realizes at least about 5% higher tensile yield strength in the longitudinal (L) direction relative to a conventionally-forged aluminum alloy product of comparable product form, composition and temper. 
     
     
         13 . The forged product of  claim 12 , wherein the product has a maximum ODF intensity of at least about 60. 
     
     
         14 . The forged product of  claim 14 , wherein the product first type grains, wherein the first type grains include representative first grains, and wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 in the LT-ST plane. 
     
     
         15 . The forged product of  claim 15 , wherein the representative first grains have an average aspect ratio of at least about 9:1 in the L-ST plane.