Elevated Temperature Forming of 7000-series Aluminum Automotive Structural Components

拟议的研究将解决使用7000系列铝板合金高效制造汽车部件以减轻汽车重量的问题。与传统钢材相比，这些合金具有很高的比强度，因此具有巨大的减重潜力；然而，其有限的室温成形性使其难以制造所需的复杂形状。该提案概述了在2017年12月成功完成的三年一期项目之后，为期两年的二期项目。第二阶段将包括：(i)进一步开发和利用优化的热成形和模具淬火加工路线（在第一阶段确定为潜在的高效，快速制造策略）；（ii）非等温沉淀硬化模型的发展；（iii）模具涂层/润滑剂和制造“可操作性”的研究；（iv）开发改进的流程和性能模型；(5)进一步的腐蚀性能研究集中在正在研究的加工路线上。在这个新阶段，将继续研究第一阶段研究的基准AA7075合金，以及对AA6013的有限研究。另一种合金AA7050将被引入，它具有低淬火灵敏度，是未来汽车应用的目标。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特征，将交付给我们的行业合作伙伴本田、麦格纳（Promatek研究中心）和Arconic。这项研究的最终结果将是商业化的加工路线，以制造高强度、轻重量的汽车结构部件，以便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提高车辆性能，从而减少燃料消耗和温室气体排放。

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.