Electrical activation rapid aging heat treatment method and device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of heat treatment, and provides an electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment method and device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts.The electric excitation rapid aging device is composed of a power supply, a temperature control device, a temperature measuring device, a first flow guide plate, a second flow guide plate and an auxiliary heating plate.The aluminum alloy sheet metal part is supplied with electric current, and the current self-resistance heating mode is used to increase the temperature of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part to the required temperature for aging heat treatment.The electric excitation rapid aging device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts provided by the application has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, and is convenient to operate, and can complete the electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part at low cost and high efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of heat treatment technology, and particularly relates to an electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment method and apparatus for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts. Background Technology

[0002] Aging heat treatment of aluminum alloys is typically performed in a heat treatment furnace, which includes several types such as box-type resistance furnaces, pit-type resistance furnaces, and salt bath furnaces. The basic working principle involves using electric current / fuel to heat the medium (air or molten salt) within the furnace, thereby heating the workpiece. This process involves a long energy conversion path and low utilization rate. Consequently, this method suffers from low heating efficiency and low energy utilization when aging large sheet metal parts, and the equipment is complex, leading to increased time and energy costs.

[0003] In recent years, research has found that electric current can rapidly optimize the microstructure of materials, thereby enhancing the performance of workpieces, such as yield strength and hardness. Some scholars have applied this technology to heat treatment. Chinese utility model patent CN207811822U discloses a device for pulsed current-assisted solution heat treatment of metal components; Chinese utility model patent CN207197955U discloses a device for pulsed current-assisted creep aging; and Chinese invention patent CN103614673A discloses a method for rapid aging heat treatment of aluminum alloys. These three patents only use electric current as an auxiliary means to further improve material properties based on heat treatment, but they do not escape the limitations of traditional heat treatment furnaces. Chinese invention patent CN103406415A discloses a current-assisted rapid hot forming device and method for high-strength steel slender structural parts. Although it uses the Joule heat generated when current passes through a conductor as a heat source to raise the workpiece temperature and eliminate the need for a heat treatment furnace, its operating temperature range of 700-800℃ is too large to be applied to the aging heat treatment process of aluminum alloys. Chinese invention patent CN115820996A discloses a current-assisted aging treatment method and device with real-time feedback on aging performance, but it is only applicable to strip alloys and not to large-size sheet metal parts. Furthermore, this method only controls the current and voltage by referring to existing experimental data, without achieving automatic temperature control.

[0004] In summary, electric current is often used as an auxiliary method in the field of heat treatment to further improve the microstructure and properties of materials, but it has not escaped the limitations of heat treatment furnaces. Furthermore, existing inventions using self-resistance heating methods cannot meet the requirements for isothermal rapid aging heat treatment of aluminum alloy sheet metal parts. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes an electrically excited rapid aging heat treatment method and apparatus for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, achieving uniform isothermal aging of aluminum alloy sheet metal parts.

[0006] The specific technical solution of the present invention is as follows: An electrically excited rapid aging device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, comprising: Power supply 1, temperature control device 2, temperature measuring device 4, first guide plate 5, second guide plate 6, and auxiliary heating plate 7; The positive terminal of the power supply 1 is connected to the first guide plate 5 through a wire, and the negative terminal of the power supply 1 is connected to the second guide plate 6 through a wire. The first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6 are respectively disposed at both ends of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, and are respectively fixedly connected to the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 through the auxiliary heating plate 7. The first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6 are used to evenly distribute the current transmitted to the aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, ensuring that the current density in the cross section of the aluminum alloy sheet metal parts is uniform. The temperature control device 2 is connected to the temperature measuring device 4 and the power supply 1 respectively; The temperature measuring device 4 is used to measure the temperature of aluminum alloy sheet metal parts.

[0007] Preferably, the power supply 1 has an output voltage of 0-24V and an output current of 0-2000A.

[0008] Preferably, the temperature control device 2 adjusts the output current of the power supply 1 based on the temperature data obtained by the temperature measuring device 4 to achieve constant temperature control.

[0009] Preferably, the temperature measuring device 4 is a thermocouple, an infrared temperature probe, or a thermal imager.

[0010] Preferably, both the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6 have multiple uniformly distributed electrodes for connecting wires.

[0011] Preferably, the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6 are made of copper, and the auxiliary heating plate 7 is made of steel.

[0012] Preferably, the wire is connected to the first guide plate 5, the wire is connected to the second guide plate 6, the first guide plate 5 is connected to the auxiliary heating plate 7, the second guide plate 6 is connected to the auxiliary heating plate 7, and the auxiliary heating plate 7 is connected to the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 using copper bolts and nuts.

[0013] A method for rapid aging heat treatment of aluminum alloy sheet metal parts by electrical excitation includes the following steps: Step 1: Measure the dimensions of aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, and design and manufacture the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6; Step 2: Select the area to be measured on the aluminum alloy sheet metal part and spray it with black paint, then install the temperature measuring device 4; Step 3: Set the aging heat treatment parameters for the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 using temperature control device 2; Step 4: Assemble the electrically excited rapid aging device; Step 5: Turn on power supply 1 to perform electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment on aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, and automatically adjust the current of power supply 1 through temperature control device 2 based on the real-time temperature measurement data of temperature measuring device 4 to achieve constant temperature control. Step 6: After the aging time is reached, turn off power 1, remove aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, wash off the black paint, and complete the electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment of aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3.

[0014] Preferably, the aging heat treatment parameters in step three include the aging target temperature, the maximum output current of the power supply, the current frequency, the duty cycle, and the holding time.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. The electro-excitation rapid aging device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts proposed in this invention has a simple structure, is easy to assemble and operate, and can perform electro-excitation rapid aging heat treatment on aluminum alloy sheet metal parts at low cost and high efficiency.

[0016] 2. The electro-excitation rapid aging device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts proposed in this invention uses a guide plate with multiple uniformly distributed electrodes, which can uniformly distribute the current transmitted to the aluminum alloy sheet metal parts and ensure uniform temperature in the cross section perpendicular to the current transmission direction.

[0017] 3. The electro-excitation rapid aging heat treatment method proposed in this invention can change the microstructure of aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, such as promoting the precipitation of internal deposits and increasing dislocation density. Under the same treatment time, it has better microstructure performance, accelerates aging strengthening, and can reach the target state in a shorter time.

[0018] 4. The aluminum alloy sheet metal parts treated by the electro-excitation rapid aging heat treatment method of the present invention have improved strength, hardness and other properties.

[0019] 5. The electrically excited rapid aging heat treatment method proposed in this invention achieves the temperature rise of the workpiece by directly passing an electric current through it and using direct resistance electric heating. The heating rate depends on the set power supply and the temperature response is fast. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. The features and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are schematic and should not be construed as limiting the present invention in any way. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrically excited rapid aging device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts proposed in this invention.

[0022] 1-Power supply, 2-Temperature control equipment, 3-Aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, 4-Temperature measuring equipment, 5-First guide plate, 6-Second guide plate, 7-Auxiliary heating plate. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0024] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and therefore the scope of protection of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0025] This invention provides a method and apparatus for electrically excited rapid aging heat treatment of large-size aluminum alloy sheet metal parts. The electrically excited rapid aging heat treatment involves passing an electric current through the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, using a self-resistance heating method to raise the temperature of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 to the required aging heat treatment temperature. The electrically excited rapid aging apparatus mainly consists of a power supply 1, a temperature measuring device 4, a temperature control device 2, and a flow guide plate. The positive terminal of the power supply 1 is connected to a first flow guide plate 5 via a wire, and the negative terminal of the power supply 1 is connected to a second flow guide plate 6 via a wire. The first flow guide plate 5 and the second flow guide plate 6 are respectively disposed at both ends of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 and are respectively fixedly connected to the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 via an auxiliary heating plate 7.

[0026] Power supply 1 is capable of outputting high current at low voltage.

[0027] Temperature measurement device 4 can be a thermocouple, an infrared temperature probe, or a thermal imager.

[0028] Temperature control device 2 collects temperature data measured by temperature measuring device 4, and adjusts the current based on the temperature at a specific measuring point or the temperature calculated according to a specific algorithm to achieve constant temperature control. After the holding time is reached, the power supply 1 is cut off or the next step of aging heat treatment is initiated. Before the aging process begins, parameters such as the current duty cycle, frequency, maximum current value, and holding time need to be set.

[0029] The cross-sectional areas of the wires and the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 are different. The first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6 play a role in uniformly distributing the current, ensuring that the current density is uniform in the cross-section perpendicular to the current conduction direction. To save materials, a multi-wire-multi-point electrode method is selected to ensure that the current is introduced into the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 as uniformly as possible.

[0030] Because of the significant difference in electrical and thermal conductivity between copper and aluminum alloy used in the conductors and guide plates, some of the heat generated by the self-resistance heating of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 will be conducted to the guide plate and conductors at and near the copper-aluminum alloy contact point. Therefore, an auxiliary heating plate 7 needs to be added between the guide plate and the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 to transfer heat to the guide plate and conductors, ensuring uniform overall temperature of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3.

[0031] Bolts and nuts are used to connect wires, guide plates, auxiliary heating plates 7 and aluminum alloy sheet metal parts 3. This ensures that the connection will not fail during long-term aging heat treatment, while copper bolts and nuts are used to reduce current loss.

[0032] This invention also proposes an electrically excited rapid aging heat treatment method for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Measure the dimensions of aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, design and manufacture the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 6. The principle of copper electrode distribution on the guide plate is to make the current as uniform as possible while saving materials. Step 2: Select the area to be measured on the aluminum alloy sheet metal part and install the temperature measuring device 4; Spray black paint on the area to be measured on the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 to maintain the emissivity at 0.92, ensuring the accuracy of temperature measurement. If a thermocouple is selected as the temperature measuring device 4, this step can be ignored; Step 3: Set the aging heat treatment parameters for the aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3 through the temperature control device 2, including the target aging temperature, the maximum output current value of the power supply, the current frequency, the duty cycle, the holding time, and other parameters. Step 4, according to Figure 1 Assemble the electrically excited rapid aging device; Step 5: Turn on power supply 1 to perform electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment on aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, and adjust the current of power supply 1 through temperature control device 2 according to the real-time temperature measurement data of temperature measuring device 4 to achieve constant temperature control. Step 6: After the aging time is reached, turn off power 1, remove aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3, wash off the black paint, and complete the electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment of aluminum alloy sheet metal part 3.

[0033] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0034] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0035] In this invention, the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The term "multiple" refers to two or more unless otherwise expressly defined.

[0036] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrically excited rapid aging device for aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, characterized in that, include: Power supply (1), temperature control device (2), temperature measuring device (4), first guide plate (5), second guide plate (6) and auxiliary heating plate (7); The positive terminal of the power supply (1) is connected to the first guide plate (5) through a wire, and the negative terminal of the power supply (1) is connected to the second guide plate (6) through a wire. The first guide plate (5) and the second guide plate (6) are respectively disposed at both ends of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3) and are respectively fixedly connected to the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3) through the auxiliary heating plate (7). The first guide plate (5) and the second guide plate (6) are used to evenly distribute the current transmitted to the aluminum alloy sheet metal parts, ensuring that the current density in the cross section of the aluminum alloy sheet metal parts is uniform. The temperature control device (2) is connected to the temperature measuring device (4) and the power supply (1) respectively; The temperature measuring device (4) is used to measure the temperature of aluminum alloy sheet metal parts; The temperature control device (2) adjusts the output current of the power supply (1) based on the temperature data obtained by the temperature measuring device (4) to achieve constant temperature control; Both the first guide plate (5) and the second guide plate (6) have multiple uniformly distributed electrodes for connecting wires; The first guide plate (5) and the second guide plate (6) are made of copper, and the auxiliary heating plate (7) is made of steel. The wires are connected to the first guide plate (5), the wires to the second guide plate (6), the first guide plate (5) to the auxiliary heating plate (7), the second guide plate (6) to the auxiliary heating plate (7), and the auxiliary heating plate (7) to the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3) by copper bolts and nuts.

2. The electrically excited rapid aging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply (1) has an output voltage of 0-24V and an output current of 0-2000A.

3. The electrically excited rapid aging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature measuring device (4) is a thermocouple, an infrared temperature probe, or a thermal imager.

4. A method for rapid aging heat treatment based on the electro-excited rapid aging device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Measure the dimensions of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3), and design and manufacture the first guide plate (5) and the second guide plate (6); Step 2: Select the area to be measured on the aluminum alloy sheet metal part and spray it with black paint, then install the temperature measuring device (4). Step 3: Set the aging heat treatment parameters for the aluminum alloy sheet metal parts (3) using the temperature control device (2); Step 4: Assemble the electrically excited rapid aging device; Step 5: Turn on the power supply (1) and perform electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment on the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3). Based on the real-time temperature measurement data of the temperature measuring device (4), adjust the current of the power supply (1) through the temperature control device (2) to achieve constant temperature control. Step 6: After the aging time is reached, turn off the power (1), take out the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3), wash off the black paint, and complete the electric excitation rapid aging heat treatment of the aluminum alloy sheet metal part (3).

5. The electrically excited rapid aging heat treatment method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The aging heat treatment parameters in step three include the target aging temperature, the maximum output current of the power supply, the current frequency, the duty cycle, and the holding time.

Images