DE102010018252A1 - Aluminum composite sheet product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an aluminum composite rolled sheet product comprising a core material and a plating layer material deposited on at least one side of the core material, the plating layer material having an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface faces the core material, and wherein the core material is an aluminum alloy selected from the AA7xxx series alloys, and wherein the cladding layer material is an AA4xxx series alloy.

Description

The This invention relates to an aluminum composite rolled sheet product, in the form of a vehicle body panel or a vehicle body member, wherein a plating layer on at least one side of a Core material is applied or will. The invention relates beyond that to a compound structure, which includes such an aluminum composite rolled sheet product.

As this will be recognized below, refer, except it is stated otherwise, aluminum alloy designations and temper designations on the Aluminum Association designations in aluminum standards and Data and the Registration Records, as made by the Aluminum Association 2009 were published.

For any description of alloy compositions or preferred Alloy compositions are all references to percentages Percent by weight unless otherwise specified.

In The production of vehicles has been particularly aluminum alloys AA5xxx and AA6xxx series alloys, such as AA5051, AA5182, AA5454, AA5754, AA6009, AA6016, AA6022 and AA6111 used to body panels or plates while carrying a load or receiving structural or construction parts, such as door supports and column reinforcements, usually Made of steel due to its higher strength become. For example, the B-pillar reinforcement, which plays an important role in protecting the occupants of a vehicle in a side-impact crash, currently one Ultra-high strength steel, for example boron steel. Such a B-pillar is made of a rolled steel sheet produced in a hot or warm pressing process.

It there is increasing interest within the automotive industry, 7xxx series Aluminum alloys for structural or structural parts and for suspended or suspension parts to use. Compared to the 6xxx and 5xxx series alloys The 7xxx series alloys can be a considerable have higher mechanical strength. These higher Levels of strength provide strength savings Components which are currently made of steel. However, a disadvantage of the 7xxx series alloys is their limited Weldability.

It is an object of the present invention, an improved Aluminum composite sheet product of the type mentioned above To provide, and which for use as a vehicle body panel is formed.

These and other goals and other benefits are provided by the present Invention relating to an aluminum composite rolled sheet product in the Meets or exceeds the shape of a vehicle body panel and comprising a core material and a plating layer material, which is applied to at least one side of the core material is, wherein the plating layer material has an inner surface and an outer surface and wherein the inner surface is directed to the core material, and wherein the core material is an aluminum alloy, chosen from the AA7xxx series alloys, and where the Plating layer material consists of an AA4xxx series alloy.

According to the The present invention will provide a composite structure made of an AA7xxx series aluminum alloy, which the required high strength the Fahrzeugstruktur- or Construct member, wherein in the core at least one Side is provided a plating or coating, which improved Surface properties provides to a welding or bonding, in particular by means of laser welding and laser brazing easier. The connection process can be done without the addition of a flux material which is usually used in welding operations using welding wires ver used becomes. In addition, the present approach allows the manufacture of complex shaped welded or connected structures, which otherwise difficult due to the limited access of the welding wire are to produce. It was also found that due the flowability of the molten AA4xxx series Alloy during welding or soldering or brazing process it is better than having a welding wire is used. The better flowability results among other things in a visually better connection, however also in an increased strength or strength, for example, up to about 5% of the compound compared to use a welding wire.

Suitable AA7xxx series core alloys are those having a Zn content of up to 9.7%, and preferably up to about 6.5%, and a Cu content of up to about 2.6%, and preferably up to about 2.0%, in particular the AA7116, AA7020, AA7021, AA7029, AA7050, AA7075, AA7081, AA7181, AA7085, AA7003 and AA7005 series alloys, and modifications thereof are suitable for use as a vehicle panel and vehicle structural member when constructed in accordance with coated or plated according to the present invention are. Alloys of the AA7021, AA7081 and AA7085 series alloys are most preferred in terms of their strength capabilities after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle used in the automotive industry.

The Plating material, which in accordance with the Invention applied is typically one AA4xxx series containing Si content in the range of 8% to 12% having. And is typically an alloy of the AA4045 series.

The Plating material product may be normal and / or unavoidable Contain elements and impurities, typically <0.05% and <0.2% total, and the balance is provided by aluminum.

In an embodiment of the plating layer, it can moreover comprise one or more wetting agents, which reduces (reduces) the surface tension, to facilitate a welding process, wherein the wetting agent in a range of 0.01% to 0.8%, and preferably in one range from 0.02% to 0.5%, and preferably selected is from the group consisting of: Ag, Be, Bi, Ce, La, Pb and Sn. As a single additive, Bi is preferred, for example, about 0.1%.

The Composite sheet product in accordance with the present invention Invention may consist only of a cladding sheet, which is applied only on one side of the core material. In a In another embodiment, the plating or coating be applied on both sides of the core material. As a result the composite sheet material exhibits excellent balanced properties, in particular strength and formability and connectivity means a laser brazing or laser welding.

Even though the dimensions of the aluminum composite material in many ways can be varied (mostly due to the specific Use and conflicting requirements) indicates a Use as a vehicle panel or vehicle body member the core material a preferred thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 3.5 mm, preferably 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm. The plating layer or plating layers is or are much thinner than the core sheet, each one Plating layer about 2% to 20% of the total thickness of the composite sheet is or represents. A plating layer or a Plating sheet typically represents about 2% to 10% of the total Thickness of the composite sheet; for example, about 5% or about 8%.

The Composite rolled sheet product according to this invention Can be used to structural or construction parts an AA7xxx series aluminum alloy sheet in the shape of a vehicle structural or construction part or a vehicle body part. Specifically, a structural part chosen from the group comprising: door carrier, roof rack, side carrier, Dashboard support beam, pillar reinforcement, Tunnel and B-pillar reinforcement.

In In another aspect of the invention, it relates to a vehicle body panel and on a vehicle structural part, which from the vehicle body panel in the form of a composite sheet material according to this Invention is produced.

In In another aspect of the invention, it relates to a connection or composite vehicle structure, wherein the structure is the aluminum composite rolled sheet according to this invention and which for example by means of laser welding or laser brazing connected to another metalli's part. The other metallic Part can be made of an aluminum alloy, for example, another or the same AA7xxx series alloy, or a vehicle steel product, preferably be made of a galvanized steel product. The galvanized layer of the steel product and the AA4xxx series plating layer are directed towards each other in the connection process and can interact with each other. It was found that the relatively small amount of Zn on the steel product is not detrimental Has effect on the properties of the compound which in the laser welding or Laserhartlötvorgang formed becomes. The zinc can even have a certain favorable galvanic Give corrosion protection of the compound formed.

In In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing an aluminum composite sheet material in which a plating layer on at least one side of a core material applied or applied. In accordance with According to the present invention, the core material comprises a Aluminum alloy of the defined AA7xxx series, and wherein the defined plating layer on the core material by means of a Walzplattierens is set to the required metallurgical Bonding between the core material and the plating layer to achieve.

One Such roll-plating process is very economical and results in a very effective composite sheet material, which the desired Features shows.

Of course The Walzplattierverfahren can by various additional Be accompanied processing or processing steps, such as an anneal to determine the final properties the vehicle body panel in the form of the composite sheet material.

If Such a roll cladding method for producing the composite sheet material carried out according to the present invention it is preferred that both the core material and also the plating layer of a thickness reduction during the Walzplattierens subject or be suspended.

For example For example, the core material may initially be about 400 mm thick with a block Plating layer of initially about 24 mm thickness on both sides be. After a roll cladding is the final thickness of the core material about 1 mm, while the final one Thickness of the plating layer, for example, about 60 μm is.

It it is stated that the original or initial dimensions and final dimensions of the composite rolled product both by the properties of the Walzplattierverfahrens or process as well as by the required properties of the finished Sheet metal product can be determined.

The Roll plating can be done in several ways become. For example, it is possible that the Walzplattierverfahren both a hot rolling and a Cold rolling includes.

About that In addition, the roll-plating process can be a one-step process or a multi-stage process in which during successive rolling stages or steps the material in the Dimensions is reduced. Separate rolling steps can then by other processing steps, such as annealing steps, Heating or heating steps, cooling steps, etc. be separated.

• (i) ein Bereitstellen einer Plattierung auf wenigstens einer Fläche eines Kernrohlings durch ein gemeinsames Gießen, um einen beschichteten bzw. plattierten Rohling zu bilden, und
• (ii) ein Walzen des plattierten Rohlings, um einen Verbundblechgegenstand herzustellen, welcher eine Kernmaterialschicht und wenigstens eine Plattierschicht bzw. -lage aufweist.

In another aspect of the invention, it also relates to a method of making a composite sheet product, the method comprising:

• (i) providing plating on at least one surface of a core blank by co-casting to form a clad blank, and
• (ii) rolling the clad blank to produce a composite sheet article having a core material layer and at least one cladding layer.

In In one embodiment, the common casting step (i) by casting the core blank on the plating layer performed at a point where the metal of the plating metal layer at a temperature between the solidus temperature and liquidus temperature of the metal of the plating metal layer is located around one substantially continuous metallurgical bond between the metal layers to create. This common or co-casting and a Apparatus are also disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0011630 described, which was published on January 20, 2005 (the disclosure of which is specific incorporated herein by reference).

In another embodiment, the common casting step (i) is performed by casting the plating layer in a molten mold onto a solid core blank, as shown for example in U.S. Pat WO 2010/000553 published on Jan. 7, 2010 (the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference).

The The invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments which is widely within the scope of the invention can be varied as stated by the enclosed claims is defined.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2010/000553 [0028]

Claims (16)

Aluminum composite rolled sheet product in the mold a vehicle body panel and comprising a core material and a plating layer material which is on at least one side of the core material, wherein the plating layer material an inner surface and an outer one Has surface and where the inner surface directed to the core material, and wherein the core material an aluminum alloy, selected from the AA7xxx series Alloys, and wherein the cladding layer material of a AA4xxx series alloy exists. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to claim 1, wherein the composite sheet product consists of a core material which a plating layer on both surfaces of the core material. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to claim 1, wherein the composite sheet product consists of a core material which a plating layer on only one surface of the core material, and preferably wherein the outer Surface of the plating layer free of other metallic Layers is. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the core material is an AA7xxx series Alloy is which Zn up to 9.7%, preferably up to 6.5%, and, optionally, moreover, Cu up to 2.6%, preferably up to 2.0%. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the core material is an AA7xxx series Alloy is selected from the group of AA7116, AA7020, AA7021, AA7029, AA7050, AA7075, AA7081, AA7085, AA7003 and AA7005 series Alloys. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the core material is an AA7xxx series Alloy is selected from the group of AA7021, AA7081 and AA7085 series alloys. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the plating layer material consists of an AA4xxx series alloy containing 7% to 13% Si. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to claim 7, wherein the cladding layer material is of an AA4xxx series aluminum alloy which is moreover 0.01% to 0.8%, preferably From 0.02% to 0.5% of a wetting agent from the group consisting of: Ag, Be, Bi, Ce, La, Pb and Sn. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the plating layer material is an aluminum alloy within the AA4045 series. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the core material has a thickness in a range of 0.5 mm to 3.5 mm, and preferably in one range from 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm. Aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the one or both plating layer (s) a thickness in a range of 2% to 20%, and preferably in a range of 2% to 10% of the total thickness of the composite rolled sheet product have (have). Fahrzeugrohbauteil, which from the aluminum composite sheet product according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is. Vehicle structure or construction part, which from the aluminum composite sheet product according to a of claims 1 to 11 is produced. Vehicle structure part according to a of claims 12 or 13, wherein the structural part is selected from the group of: door porters, Roof rack, side carrier, dashboard support carrier, Column reinforcement, tunnel and B-pillar reinforcement. A compound vehicle structure comprising an aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to of claims 1 to 11 and connected by laser welding or laser brazing to another aluminum alloy product. A composite vehicle structure comprising an aluminum composite rolled sheet product according to one of claims 1 to 11 and connected by laser welding or laser brazing to a galvanized steel product.