Aluminum alloy material for a vehicular component, a vehicular component manufactured thereof, and a method of manufacturing a vehicular component

Abstract

An aluminum alloy material for a vehicular component is provided. The aluminum alloy material includes 0.1 wt % or less of Si, 0.1 wt % or less of Fe, 0.1 to 0.4 wt % of Cu, 1.0 to 1.5 wt % of Mg, 4.5 to 5.5 wt % of Zn, 0.04 wt % of Ti, 0.2 wt % of Zr, and the balance being Al on the wt % basis. This aluminum alloy material exhibits improved properties in terms of yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation ratio, all of which contribute to the lightweighting of a vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum alloy material for a vehicular component, the aluminum alloy material comprising:
 0.1 wt % or less of Si;   0.1 wt % or less of Fe;   0.1 to 0.4 wt % of Cu;   1.0 to 1.5 wt % of Mg;   4.5 to 5.5 wt % of Zn;   0.04 wt % or less of Ti;   0.2 wt % or less of Zr; and   a balance of Al.   
     
     
         2 . The aluminum alloy material of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy material contains no chromium or manganese. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicular component comprising:
 an extruded, heat-treated aluminum alloy material having:
 0.1 wt % or less of Si; 
 0.1 wt % or less of Fe; 
 0.1 to 0.4 wt % of Cu; 
 1.0 to 1.5 wt % of Mg; 
 4.5 to 5.5 wt % of Zn; 
 0.04 wt % or less of Ti; 
 0.2 wt % or less of Zr; and 
 a balance of Al. 
   
     
     
         4 . The vehicular component of  claim 3 , wherein the extruded, heat-treated aluminum alloy material has been extruded and subsequently subjected to a two-step heat treatment comprising: primarily heating the aluminum alloy material at a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 120° C. for 3 to 6 hours, and secondarily heating the aluminum alloy material at a temperature ranging from 130° C. to 180° C. for 8 to 15 hours. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicular component of  claim 3 , wherein the extruded, heat-treated aluminum alloy material has a yield strength of 401 MPa or more. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicular component of  claim 3 , wherein the extruded, heat-treated aluminum alloy material has a tensile strength of 436 MPa or more. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicular component of  claim 3 , wherein the extruded, heat-treated aluminum alloy material has an elongation ratio of 16.3% or higher. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicular component of  claim 3 , wherein the aluminum alloy material contains no chromium or manganese. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a vehicular component, the method comprising:
 extruding an aluminum alloy material to provide an extrudate; and   performing a two-step heat treatment on the extrudate to provide the vehicular component.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the aluminum alloy material comprises:
 0.1 wt % or less of Si;   0.1 wt % or less of Fe;   0.1 to 0.4 wt % of Cu;   1.0 to 1.5 wt % of Mg;   4.5 to 5.5 wt % of Zn;   0.04 wt % or less of Ti;   0.2 wt % or less of Zr; and   a balance of Al.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the aluminum alloy material contains no chromium or manganese. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the performing of the two-step heat treatment comprises:
 primarily performing a heat treatment on the extrudate at a temperature in a range of 80° C. to 120° C. for 3 to 6 hours; and   secondarily performing a heat treatment on the extrudate at a temperature in a range of 130° C. to 180° C. for 8 to 15 hours.