Aluminum alloy products with high electrical and thermal conductivity and improved mechanical properties and manufacturing process

Abstract

In the process according to the invention, an aluminum alloy is prepared with the following composition, in wt%: Si: 0.4 – 1.4, Fe: up to 0.5, Cu: up to 0.8, Mg: 0.2 – 0.9, Mn: 0.08 – 0.8 and / or Cr: 0.06 – 0.5, Zn: up to 0.5, Ti: up to 0.05, V: up to 0.05, other elements or impurities < 0.05 each and < 0.15 total, the remainder being aluminum. This alloy is then cast, homogenized, hot-rolled, and optionally cold-rolled and heat-treated, with the final sheet thickness being from 0.5 mm to 10 mm. The processing conditions are determined to obtain an IACS conductivity of at least 47% and to achieve, in the transverse-longitudinal direction, a yield strength of Rp0,2 of at least 35 MPa and an elongation A % of at least 25%, i.e. an elastic limit Rp0,2 of at least 145 MPa and an elongation A % of at least 5%.The products obtained by the process according to the invention are particularly advantageous for applications requiring good electrical or thermal conductivity such as heat sinks, battery cooling channels, stamped cooling panels, conductive bars, flat screen cooling plates, refrigerated plates, squirrel cage rotors, roof coils.