JP2023110771A - Metallic material, and component enabling out door use - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a metallic material capable of generating an anode oxidation layer excellent in designability and corrosion resistance, and a component enabling out door use.SOLUTION: A metallic material 1 includes: a base material 10; and a formed layer 20 formed on the base material 10 and containing a plurality of metallic inclusions, where all of a plurality of the metallic inclusion respectively have a maximum length of 300 nanometer or less, and a minimum length of 100 nanometer or less. A plurality of the metallic inclusions are preferably crystallized materials. A component 3 enabling out door use includes the metallic material 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to the technology of metal materials and parts for outdoor use.

Conventionally, metal materials such as aluminum alloys are known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an aluminum alloy in which an anodized layer forming an alumite film is formed on the surface of a base material by subjecting the surface to alumite treatment.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0284528

Metallic materials such as aluminum alloys are used, for example, in outdoor usable parts. Metal materials such as aluminum alloys contain various metal inclusions in order to improve their properties as metal materials. In metal materials, metal inclusions contained in the base material affect the design and corrosion resistance of the anodized layer formed on the base material. Metallic materials and parts that can be used outdoors made of such metallic materials are desired to have an anodized layer with improved design and corrosion resistance.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a metal material capable of forming an anodized layer with excellent design and corrosion resistance, and a part that can be used outdoors.

A metallic material according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a base material and a forming layer formed on the base material and including a plurality of metallic inclusions, all of the plurality of metallic inclusions each having a thickness of 300 nanometers or less. and a minimum length of 100 nanometers or less.
According to the metal material of the first aspect, an anodized layer with excellent design and corrosion resistance can be produced.

In the metal material of the second aspect according to the first aspect, the plurality of metal inclusions are crystallized substances.
According to the metal material of the second aspect, it is possible to form an anodized layer with superior design and corrosion resistance.

In the metallic material of the third aspect according to the first or second aspect, at least some of the plurality of metallic inclusions have a minimum length of 10 nanometers or less.
According to the metal material of the third aspect, it is possible to form an anodized layer with superior design and corrosion resistance.

In the metal material of the fourth side according to the first or second side, at least some of the plurality of metal inclusions have a minimum length of 1 nanometer or less.
According to the metal material of the fourth aspect, it is possible to produce an anodized layer with superior design and corrosion resistance.

The metallic material of the fifth aspect according to any one of the first to fourth aspects comprises an anodized layer formed on the forming layer.
According to the metal material of the fifth aspect, by using the metal material for parts such as parts that can be used outdoors, the design and corrosion resistance of the parts can be improved.

In the metallic material of the sixth aspect according to the fifth aspect, the formation layer has a maximum thickness in the range of 100 nanometers to 10 micrometers.
According to the metal material of the sixth aspect, it is possible to produce an anodized layer that is superior in designability and corrosion resistance.

In the metal material of the seventh aspect according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the plurality of metal inclusions include first metal inclusions containing iron, second metal inclusions containing magnesium, and silicon. A third metal inclusion and a fourth metal inclusion containing copper are included.
According to the metal material of the seventh aspect, it is possible to produce an anodized layer that is superior in designability and corrosion resistance. In particular, an anodized layer with excellent transparency can be produced.

In the metallic material of the eighth aspect according to the seventh aspect, each of the first metallic inclusion, the second metallic inclusion and the third metallic inclusion has a maximum length of 10 nanometers or less.
According to the metal material of the eighth aspect, it is possible to produce an anodized layer with superior design and corrosion resistance. In particular, an anodized layer with excellent transparency can be produced.

In the metallic material of the ninth aspect according to the seventh or eighth aspect, the fourth metallic inclusion has a maximum length of 300 nanometers or less.
According to the metal material of the ninth aspect, it is possible to form an anodized layer with superior design and corrosion resistance. In particular, an anodized layer with excellent transparency can be produced.

In the metal material of the tenth aspect according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the base material contains aluminum.
According to the metal material of the tenth aspect, it is possible to produce an alumite layer with superior design and corrosion resistance.

The outdoor usable component of the eleventh aspect comprises a metallic material according to any one of the first to tenth aspects.
According to the outdoor usable part of the eleventh aspect, an anodized layer with excellent design and corrosion resistance can be produced.

According to the metal material and the outdoor usable part of the present disclosure, an anodized layer with excellent design and corrosion resistance can be produced.

Sectional drawing which shows the metal material which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 4 is a flow chart showing a process of forming a metal material according to the first embodiment; (a) A cross-sectional view showing a metal material being subjected to electron beam irradiation treatment. (b) A cross-sectional view showing the metal material after being subjected to electron beam irradiation treatment. Sectional drawing which shows the metal material which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 6 is a flow chart showing steps of forming a metal material according to the second embodiment. (a) Cross-sectional view showing a metal material after an anodizing treatment. (b) A cross-sectional view showing the metal material after being subjected to dyeing treatment and sealing treatment. (a) TEM image showing the surface of the aluminum alloy material of the comparative example. (b) A TEM image showing the surface of the aluminum alloy material of the example. A TEM image showing a cross section of an aluminum alloy material of a comparative example. A TEM image showing a cross section of an aluminum alloy material of an example. Transparency data of aluminum alloy materials of Examples and Comparative Examples. Corrosion resistance data of aluminum alloy materials of Examples and Comparative Examples.

(First embodiment)
A configuration of the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is used to describe the configuration of the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment. The metal material 1 is used for various products such as parts for manpowered vehicles and fishing parts. The metal material 1 is made of an aluminum alloy. Although the type of aluminum alloy is not limited, it is preferably a 2000-series Al--Cu-based aluminum alloy. The metal material 1 includes a base material 10 and a forming layer 20 formed on the base material 10 . The base material 10 contains a metal capable of forming an anodized layer. Metals capable of forming an anodized layer include, for example, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, tantalum, and the like. In this embodiment, the base material 10 contains aluminum. Base material 10 may include magnesium, titanium, or tantalum.

Base material 10 includes a plurality of metal inclusions in an aluminum alloy. A plurality of metal inclusions are included in the base material 10 in order to improve properties such as strength of the metal material 1 . The base material 10 contains iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), and copper (Cu) as a plurality of metal inclusions. The base material 10 may contain other elements as a plurality of metal inclusions. A plurality of metal inclusions exist as crystallized substances in the base material 10 .

The base material 10 is made by melting a raw material containing each element constituting metal inclusions such as Fe, Mg, Si, and Cu in an aluminum alloy in a melting furnace, and then dissolving the melted raw material into a predetermined mold or the like. It is formed by solidifying while being poured into a The thickness of the base material 10 excluding the forming layer 20 is not particularly limited, and can be any thickness.

The forming layer 20 is formed on the base material 10 . Forming layer 20 includes a plurality of metal inclusions.

Specifically, the formation layer 20 includes, as the plurality of metal inclusions, a first metal inclusion containing iron (Fe), a second metal inclusion containing magnesium (Mg), and a second metal inclusion containing silicon (Si). It preferably contains trimetallic inclusions and quaternary metal inclusions containing copper (Cu). The formation layer 20 may contain other elements as a plurality of metal inclusions. The plurality of metal inclusions are preferably crystallized substances.

The plurality of metal inclusions contained in the forming layer 20 are finer than the metal inclusions contained in the conventional aluminum alloy material or the base material 10 . Specifically, all of the plurality of metal inclusions contained in forming layer 20 each have a maximum length of 300 nanometers (nm) or less and a minimum length of 100 nanometers (nm) or less.

As used herein, the maximum length refers to the longest length of a single metal inclusion when viewed in projection. The minimum length refers to the shortest length of a single metal inclusion when viewed in projection.

When an anodized layer is formed on the formation layer 20 by the plurality of metal inclusions having a maximum length of 300 nm or less and a minimum length of 100 nm or less, the designability of the anodized layer, and , corrosion resistance is improved. The reason for the improvement in designability and corrosion resistance will be described later.

At least some of the plurality of metal inclusions preferably have a minimum length of 10 nm or less, more preferably 1 nm or less. When an anodized layer is formed on the formation layer 20 by part of the plurality of metal inclusions having a minimum length of 10 nm or less, or 1 nm or less, the designability of the anodized layer, and Corrosion resistance is further improved.

Each of the first metal inclusions containing Fe, the second metal inclusions containing Mg, and the third metal inclusions containing Si preferably has a maximum length of 10 nm or less. The Cu-containing quaternary metal inclusions preferably have a maximum length of 300 nm or less. The maximum length of each of the first metal inclusions, the second metal inclusions, and the third metal inclusions is 10 nm or less, and the maximum length of the fourth metal inclusions is 300 nm or less. When the anodized layer is formed on the surface, the design and corrosion resistance of the anodized layer are further improved.

Forming layer 20 preferably has a maximum thickness in the range of 100 nm to 10 μm. By setting the maximum thickness of the forming layer 20 to 100 nm to 10 μm, when an anodized layer is formed on the forming layer 20, the design and corrosion resistance of the anodized layer are further improved.

A process of forming the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. 2 and 3 are used for the description of the process. The metal material 1 is formed by performing the processes from steps S1 to S3 shown in FIG.

In step S1, solution treatment is performed. In the solution treatment, a raw material is prepared in which element components such as Fe, Mg, Si, and Cu are contained in predetermined proportions in aluminum. The raw material is melted in a melting furnace. The molten aluminum alloy, which is the melted raw material, is subjected to refining treatment as necessary. The refined molten aluminum alloy is poured into a predetermined mold or the like and rapidly cooled by water cooling. A material in a solid solution state is formed in which element components such as Fe, Mg, Si, and Cu are dissolved in aluminum.

In step S2, an aging process is performed. As the aging treatment, artificial aging treatment is preferably performed. In the artificial aging treatment, the material that has been quenched in the solution treatment in step S1 is heated again at around 200° C. for a predetermined period of time, so that metal inclusions, which are elements supersaturated into aluminum, are crystallized. is precipitated as Precipitation of metal inclusions as crystallized substances improves the strength of the aluminum alloy.

In step S3, an electron beam irradiation process is performed. In the electron beam irradiation treatment, as shown in FIG. 3A, an electron beam is applied to the surface of the aluminum alloy material after the aging treatment in step S2. The energy of the electron beam to be irradiated is preferably 1 to 20 J/cm ² . The number of times the electron beam is irradiated can be any number of times, for example, 1 to 20 times. The temperature of the surface layer of the aluminum alloy material is set to 300 to 4000K by the electron beam irradiation treatment.

By performing the electron beam irradiation treatment as described above, the forming layer 20 is formed on the base material 10 as shown in FIG. 3(b). Metal inclusions contained in the formation layer 20 are made finer by the electron beam irradiation treatment. As described above, the plurality of metal inclusions contained in the formation layer 20 are miniaturized to have a maximum length of 300 nm or less and a minimum length of 100 nm or less. By miniaturizing the metal inclusions, it becomes possible to form an anodized layer excellent in design and corrosion resistance on the surface layer of the formation layer 20 .

The metal material 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3B is formed by performing the processes from steps S1 to S3.

(Second embodiment)
The configuration of the metal material 2 of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is used to describe the configuration of the metal material 2 of the second embodiment. Configurations common to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and overlapping descriptions are omitted. The metal material 2 according to the second embodiment differs from the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment in that it further includes an anodized layer 30 and a hydrate layer 40 .

An anodized layer 30 is formed on the forming layer 20 . The anodized layer 30 is formed as an oxide film. The anodized layer 30 is formed by anodizing the forming layer 20 . The thickness of the anodized layer 30 is not particularly limited and may be any thickness.

A hydrate layer 40 is formed on the anodized layer 30 . Hydrate layer 40 contains a hydrate. The hydrate layer 40 is formed by sealing the anodized layer 30 . By forming the hydrate layer 40 on the anodized layer 30, the corrosion resistance of the anodized layer 30 is improved. Since the pores of the porous anodized layer 30 are sealed by the hydrate layer 40, the dye is retained in the pores when the anodized layer 30 is dyed. By retaining the dye in the micropores, discoloration of the anodized layer 30 is suppressed. The thickness of the hydrate layer 40 is not particularly limited and may be any thickness.

A process of forming the metal material 2 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are used for description of the process. The metal material 2 is formed by performing the processes from steps S1 to S6 shown in FIG. The processing from steps S1 to S3 is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the description is omitted.

After the processes from steps S1 to S3 are performed, an anodizing process is performed in step S4. In the anodizing treatment, electrolysis is performed in a solution using the aluminum alloy subjected to the treatments from steps S1 to S3 as an anode, thereby forming an anode on the forming layer 20 as shown in FIG. 6(a). An oxide layer 30 is formed. The anodized layer 30 is formed porous.

In step S5, dyeing processing is performed. In the dyeing process, the anodized aluminum alloy material in step S4 is immersed in a dye. The dye enters the pores of the anodized layer 30 by performing the dyeing process. The anodized layer 30 is dyed by the dye entering the pores of the anodized layer 30 .

In step S6, a sealing process is performed. In the sealing process, the anodized layer 30 of the aluminum alloy material that has undergone the dyeing process in step S5 is treated with boiling water, heated steam, Ni acetate, or the like, as shown in FIG. 6(b). Thus, a hydrate layer 40 containing alumina hydrate is formed on the anodized layer 30 . The formation of the hydrate layer 40 closes the micropores of the anodized layer 30 and prevents the dye from leaking out of the micropores of the anodized layer 30 .

The metal material 2 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6B is formed by performing the processes from steps S1 to S6. The process of step S6 does not necessarily have to be performed.

Designability of the anodized layer 30 formed on the formation layer 20 by having the plurality of metal inclusions contained in the formation layer 20 have a maximum length of 300 nm or less and a minimum length of 100 nm or less, and , corrosion resistance is improved.

The reason for the improvement in designability will be explained. The anodized layer 30 on the forming layer 20 is porous. When the anodized layer 30 is formed on the forming layer 20 , part of the metal inclusions is taken into the micropores of the anodized layer 30 . Metal inclusions taken into the anodized layer 30 affect the transparency of the anodized layer 30 . In the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment and the metal material 2 according to the second embodiment, the maximum length of the plurality of metal inclusions contained in the forming layer 20 is 300 nm or less, and the minimum length is By being 100 nm or less, the influence of metal inclusions on the transparency of the anodized layer 30 is reduced. The transparency of the anodized layer 30 is improved by reducing the impact on the transparency of the anodized layer 30 given by metal inclusions. The improved transparency facilitates the desired color to be produced when the anodized layer 30 is dyed. The design of the anodized layer 30 is improved by making it easier to produce a desired color.

The reason for the improvement in corrosion resistance will be explained. When metal inclusions are taken into the micropores of the anodized layer 30, the metal inclusions become defects in the anodized layer 30, and corrosion tends to occur starting from the defects. In the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment and the metal material 2 according to the second embodiment, the maximum length of the plurality of metal inclusions contained in the formation layer 20 is 300 nm or less, and the minimum length is By being 100 nm or less, the effect of defects on the corrosion resistance of the anodized layer 30 is reduced. Corrosion resistance of the anodized layer 30 is improved by reducing the effect of defects on the corrosion resistance of the anodized layer 30 .

(Parts that can be used outdoors)
The outdoor usable part 3 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a part that can be used outdoors. The outdoor usable parts 3 include any parts that can be used outdoors, such as parts for manpowered vehicles and fishing parts. Examples of parts for human powered vehicles include crank arms, pedals, front sprockets, rear sprockets, front hub assemblies, rear hub assemblies, rim brake devices, disc brake devices, disc brake rotors, brake operating devices, front derailleurs, rear derailleurs. , shift operating devices, drive chains, front wheels, rear wheels, front suspensions, rear suspensions, seat posts, electric drive units, steering wheels, saddles, mudguards, and the like. Examples of fishing components include reels, rods, lures, and the like. The outdoor usable part 3 comprises the metallic material 1 according to the first embodiment and/or the metallic material 2 according to the second embodiment. The metal material 1 and/or the metal material 2 are used at any location of the outdoor usable part 3 .

The manpowered vehicle to which the outdoor usable part 3 is mounted is a vehicle that has at least one wheel and can be driven by at least manpower. Human powered vehicles include various types of bicycles such as mountain bikes, road bikes, city bikes, cargo bikes, hand bikes, and recumbents. The number of wheels that a manpowered vehicle has is not limited. Manpowered vehicles include, for example, one-wheeled vehicles and vehicles having two or more wheels. Manpowered vehicles are not limited to vehicles that can be driven solely by manpower. Human-powered vehicles include E-bikes that utilize electric motor drive power for propulsion as well as human power drive power. E-bikes include electrically assisted bicycles whose propulsion is assisted by an electric motor.

The present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples.

(Example)
A raw material containing aluminum containing Fe, Mg, Si, and Cu in a predetermined ratio is heated to 500° C. and held for 90 minutes, and melted in a melting furnace. The molten aluminum alloy is poured into a predetermined mold to form a plate, and then forcibly quenched by water cooling. Rapid cooling forms a plate-like material in a solid solution state in which the element components of Fe, Mg, Si, and Cu are mutually dissolved in aluminum. The plate-like material in the solid solution state is subjected to artificial aging treatment at 175° C. for 8 hours. The artificial aging treatment forms an aluminum alloy sheet in which the element components of Fe, Mg, Si, and Cu are precipitated as crystallized substances in aluminum.

The surface of the aluminum alloy plate is irradiated with an electron beam of 1 to 20 J/cm ² . Electrolysis is performed in an electrolytic solution containing 15% sulfuric acid at 20° C. using the electron beam-irradiated aluminum alloy plate as an anode. In electrolysis, a current of 1.3 A/dm ² is passed for 15 minutes. An alumite film corresponding to the anodized layer 30 is formed on the surface of the aluminum alloy plate.

An aluminum alloy plate on which an alumite film is formed is immersed in a black dye at 50° C. for 3 minutes. The anodized aluminum film is sealed by holding the dyed aluminum alloy plate in the Ni acetate solution at 90° C. for 10 minutes. As described above, the aluminum alloy material of the example is produced.

(Comparative example)
The aluminum alloy material of the comparative example is produced by performing the same treatment as the aluminum alloy material of the example, except that the electron beam irradiation was not performed.

(Comparison result between Example and Comparative Example)
FIG. 7A and FIG. 8 are images showing the surface and cross section of the alumite coating of the aluminum alloy material of the comparative example, respectively. FIG. 7B and FIG. 9 are images showing the surface and cross section of the alumite coating of the aluminum alloy material of the example, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the metal inclusions contained in the alumite coating of the aluminum alloy material of the example were finer than the metal inclusions contained in the alumite coating of the aluminum alloy material of the comparative example. Specifically, all metal inclusions contained in the alumite coating of the aluminum alloy material of the example were refined to have a maximum length of 300 nm or less and a minimum length of 100 nm or less. In particular, among the metal inclusions contained in the alumite film, Fe, Mg, and Si were refined to a maximum length of 10 nm or less.

FIG. 10 shows the reflectance of the alumite coatings of the aluminum alloy materials of Examples and Comparative Examples. A part of the alumite film was used to measure the transparency. In the aluminum alloy material of the example, the transparency of the alumite film in the visible region with a wavelength of 1000 nm or less was improved by about two times compared to the aluminum alloy material of the comparative example.

(Corrosion resistance of anodized aluminum film)
FIG. 11 shows the pit depths of the aluminum alloy materials of Examples and Comparative Examples according to the CASS test. The CASS test was performed according to the JIS H8681-2 standard. In the aluminum alloy material of the example, the pit depth by the CASS test was reduced by 95% compared to the aluminum alloy material of the comparative example.

As described above, in the metal material 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the aluminum alloy subjected to solution treatment and aging treatment is irradiated with an electron beam, so that the base material 10 A formation layer 20 was formed in the formation layer 20, and the metal inclusions contained in the formation layer 20 were refined.

The transparency of the anodized layer 30 formed on the forming layer 20 was improved by miniaturization of the metal inclusions contained in the forming layer 20 . The improved transparency of the anodized layer 30 facilitates making the anodized layer 30 a desired color. Designability is improved by making it easier to make the anodized layer 30 a desired color. The corrosion resistance of the anodized layer 30 formed on the forming layer 20 is improved by miniaturization of the metal inclusions contained in the forming layer 20 .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2... Metal material, 3... Outdoor useable parts, 10... Base material, 20... Forming layer, 30... Anodized layer, 40... Hydrate layer

Claims (11)

a base material;
a formation layer formed on the base material and containing a plurality of metal inclusions;
each of the plurality of metal inclusions has a maximum length of 300 nanometers or less and a minimum length of 100 nanometers or less;
Metal material. wherein the plurality of metal inclusions are crystallized substances,
The metal material according to claim 1. at least some of the plurality of metal inclusions have the minimum length of 10 nanometers or less;
The metal material according to claim 1 or 2. at least some of the plurality of metal inclusions have the minimum length of 1 nanometer or less;
The metal material according to claim 1 or 2. An anodized layer formed on the forming layer,
The metal material according to any one of claims 1 to 4. the forming layer has a maximum thickness in the range of 100 nanometers to 10 micrometers;
The metal material according to claim 5. The plurality of metal inclusions are
a first metal inclusion containing iron;
a second metal inclusion containing magnesium;
a third metal inclusion containing silicon;
a quaternary metal inclusion containing copper;
including,
The metal material according to any one of claims 1 to 6. each of said first metal inclusions, said second metal inclusions, and said third metal inclusions has said maximum length of 10 nanometers or less;
The metal material according to claim 7. said quaternary metal inclusions have said maximum length of 300 nanometers or less;
The metal material according to claim 7 or 8. The base material contains aluminum,
A metal material according to any one of claims 1 to 9. A part for outdoor use, comprising the metal material according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images