US 12,134,804 B2
Thermo-mechanical processing of high-performance Al-RE alloys
Ryan T. Ott, Ames, IA (US); Orlando Rios, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Zachary C. Sims, Knoxville, TN (US); David Weiss, Manitowoc, WI (US); Michael G. Kesler, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Fanqiang Meng, Zhuhai (CN); Scott K. McCall, Livermore, CA (US); and Hunter B. Henderson, Livermore, CA (US)
Assigned to Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (US); and Lawrence Livermore, National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US)
Filed by Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (US); UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US); University of Tennessee Research Foundation, Knoxville, TN (US); Fok Industries, Inc., Manitowoc, WI (US); and Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/803,369.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/258,847, filed on Jun. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0380868 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. C22C 21/00 (2006.01); B21C 23/01 (2006.01); B21C 23/14 (2006.01); B21C 29/00 (2006.01); B21C 29/02 (2006.01); B21C 31/00 (2006.01); B22F 3/12 (2006.01); B22F 3/20 (2006.01); B22F 9/08 (2006.01); C22C 1/02 (2006.01); C22C 1/04 (2023.01); C22F 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC C22C 21/00 (2013.01) [B21C 23/01 (2013.01); B21C 23/14 (2013.01); B21C 29/003 (2013.01); B21C 29/02 (2013.01); B21C 31/00 (2013.01); B22F 3/12 (2013.01); C22C 1/026 (2013.01); C22F 1/04 (2013.01); B22F 3/20 (2013.01); B22F 2009/0824 (2013.01); C22C 1/0416 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a bulk Al-RE alloy body where RE is Ce, La, mischmetal, or any combination thereof, comprising:
a) solidifying a molten Al-RE alloy where RE=Ce, La, mischmetal, or any combination thereof, wherein the alloy has a composition consisting essentially of Al, RE, and at least one of Mg, Cu, Ni, Mn, and/or Zn to form an as-solidified Al-RE alloy with an Al-rich matrix, and
b) thermo-mechanical processing the as-solidified Al-RE alloy directly in an as-cast condition in a manner that refines at least a portion of a microstructural feature of the solidified Al-RE alloy, wherein the refined microstructural feature comprises at least one of reduced intermetallic phase size and reduced matrix grain size.