Elevated Temperature Forming of 7000-series Aluminum Automotive Structural Components

这项拟议的研究将解决使用7000系列铝板合金高效制造汽车零部件以减轻汽车重量的问题。与传统钢相比，这些合金具有很高的比强度，因此具有极大的减重潜力；然而，由于其有限的室温成形性，很难制造所需的复杂形状。该提案概述了继2017年12月成功完成为期三年的第一阶段项目之后的一个为期两年的第二阶段项目。第二阶段将包括：(I)进一步开发和开发优化的温成型和模具淬火工艺路线(在第一阶段中确定为潜在的高效、快速制造战略)；(Ii)开发非等温沉淀硬化模型；(Iii)模具涂层/润滑剂研究和制造“运行”；(Iv)改进工艺和性能模型的开发；以及(V)以正在调查的加工路线为重点的腐蚀性能的进一步研究。在这个新阶段，将继续对第一阶段调查的基准AA7075合金进行研究，并对AA6013进行有限的研究。将推出另一种合金AA7050，该合金具有低失超敏感性，面向未来的汽车应用。工艺/性能模型和数据，以及正在研究的合金、涂层和润滑油系统的重要可制造性表征，将交付给我们的行业合作伙伴本田、麦格纳(Promatek Research Center)和Arconic。这项研究的最终结果将是商业加工路线，以制造高强度、轻量化的汽车结构部件，供我们的行业合作伙伴快速商业化。除了商业应用之外，加拿大还将通过结构轻量化改善车辆性能，从而减少燃料消耗和温室气体排放，从而为加拿大带来好处。

The proposed research will address the efficient fabrication of automotive components using 7000-series aluminum sheet alloys to reduce automobile weight. These alloys offer tremendous weight reduction potential due to their high specific strength compared to conventional steels; however, their limited room temperature formability makes it difficult to manufacture required complex shapes. This proposal outlines a two-year Phase II project that follows a successful three-year Phase I project completed in December, 2017. Phase II will comprise: (i) further development and exploitation of optimized warm forming and die quenching processing routes (identified in Phase I as being potentially highly efficient, fast fabrication strategies); (ii) development of non-isothermal precipitation hardening models; (iii) studies of die coatings/lubricants and manufacturing "runnability"; (iv) development of enhanced process and performance models; and, (v) further studies of corrosion performance focused on the processing routes under investigation. This new phase will see continued study of the baseline AA7075 alloy investigated in Phase I, as well as limited studies on AA6013. An additional alloy, AA7050, will be introduced which exhibits low quench sensitivity and is targeted for future automotive application. The process/performance models and data, coupled with important manufacturability characterization of the alloys, coating and lubricant systems under investigation, will be delivered to our industry partners, Honda, Magna (Promatek Research Centre) and Arconic. The final outcome of this research will be commercial processing routes to fabricate high strength, light weight automotive structural components for rapid commercialization by our industry partners. Benefit to Canada, beyond commercial application, will be accrued through improved vehicle performance by structural lightweighting, leading to reduced fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.