Aluminum alloy material and method for manufacturing aluminum alloy material

Abstract

To provide an aluminum alloy material having improved uniformity of hardness in a longitudinal direction.SOLUTION: An aluminum alloy material is composed of an aluminum alloy, wherein an average percentage content X of iron of the aluminum alloy material is 1.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, the aluminum alloy material includes a first body part extending in a first direction, a first end face of the first body part and a second end face opposite to the first end face when being viewed in the first direction, an absolute value of a difference between Vickers hardness H1 in a first cross section of the first body part and Vickers hardness H2 in a second cross section of the first body part is 5 HV or less, the first cross section is a cross section obtained by cutting the first body part in a virtual plane S1 with a distance from the first end face of 1 mm, and the second cross section is a cross section obtained by cutting the first body part in a virtual plane S2 with a distance from the second end face of 1 mm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aluminum alloy material and a method for producing an aluminum alloy material. [Background technology]

[0002] In the production of aluminum alloy (hereinafter also referred to as "Al alloy") products by powder metallurgy, rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder obtained by an atomization method is compressed to produce a billet, and the billet is then extruded to obtain the desired product (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-57304 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the aluminum alloy material obtained by extruding a billet made of aluminum alloy powder in Patent Document 1, the strength of the powder corresponding to the front end of the billet is lower than the strength of the powder corresponding to the rear end of the extruded material, so that a distribution of hardness occurs in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum alloy material. When a distribution of hardness occurs in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum alloy material, when an attempt is made to extract a part with uniform hardness or when an attempt is made to extract a long part with uniform hardness, the length of the part that can be extracted becomes short, and the yield decreases. For this reason, an aluminum alloy material with improved uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction is required.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an aluminum alloy material having improved uniformity in hardness in the longitudinal direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The aluminum alloy material of the present disclosure is An aluminum alloy material made of an aluminum alloy, The average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material is 1.5% by mass or more and 5.4% by mass or less, The aluminum alloy material includes a first main body portion extending in a first direction, a first end surface of the first main body portion, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface when viewed along the first direction, an absolute value of a difference between a Vickers hardness H1 at a first cross section of the first body portion and a Vickers hardness H2 at a second cross section of the first body portion is 5 HV or less; the first cross section is a cross section obtained by cutting the first main body portion along a virtual plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end surface, The second cross section is an aluminum alloy material that is a cross section obtained by cutting the first main body portion along an imaginary plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end face. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an aluminum alloy material having improved uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a representative configuration example of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a representative shape of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a representative configuration example of a billet used in a manufacturing method of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a typical example of the configuration of a billet laminate. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a typical configuration example of an extruder used in a manufacturing method of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) The aluminum alloy material of the present disclosure is An aluminum alloy material made of an aluminum alloy, The average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material is 1.5% by mass or more and 5.4% by mass or less, The aluminum alloy material includes a first main body portion extending in a first direction, a first end surface of the first main body portion, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface when viewed along the first direction, an absolute value of a difference between a Vickers hardness H1 at a first cross section of the first body portion and a Vickers hardness H2 at a second cross section of the first body portion is 5 HV or less; the first cross section is a cross section obtained by cutting the first main body portion along a virtual plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end surface, The second cross section is an aluminum alloy material that is a cross section obtained by cutting the first main body portion along an imaginary plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end face.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an aluminum alloy material having improved uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] (2) In (1) above, The iron content X1 in the first cross section is 1.5% by mass or more and 2.4% by mass or less, The iron content X2 in the second cross section may be 2.5 mass % or more and 5.4 mass % or less.

[0012] This makes it easier for the hardness of the aluminum alloy material to become uniform.

[0013] (3) In the above (1) or (2), a length L mm from the first end face to the second end face along the first direction of the aluminum alloy material, and an area Y mm of a minimum circumscribed circle of the first end face 2 By L 2 The relationship / Y≧5 may also be indicated.

[0014] (4) In the above (3), the length L may be 10 mm or more and 4000 mm or less.

[0015] (5) In any one of (1) to (4) above, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H3 in a cross section at the center of the first main body portion when viewed along the first direction is 5 HV or less, and The absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H2 and the Vickers hardness H3 may be 5 HV or less.

[0016] This further improves the uniformity of the hardness of the aluminum alloy material.

[0017] (6) In any one of the above (1) to (5), the average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material may be 0.002 mass% or more and 1 mass% or less, which makes it easier to suppress embrittlement of the aluminum alloy material.

[0018] (7) In any one of the above (1) to (6), the aluminum alloy material may be an extruded material.

[0019] (8) In any one of the above (1) to (7), the Vickers hardness H1 may be 50 HV or more and 90 HV or less, thereby improving the hardness of the aluminum alloy material.

[0020] (9) A method for producing an aluminum alloy material according to the present disclosure is a method for producing an aluminum alloy material according to any one of (1) to (8) above, A first step of compacting the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder to obtain a billet; A second step of obtaining an aluminum alloy material by hot extruding the billet, The billet includes a second body portion extending in a second direction, a third end surface of the second body portion, and a fourth end surface opposite the third end surface when viewed along the second direction, In the billet, an iron content X4 in a third region between the third end surface and a virtual plane S4 that is 5 mm away from the third end surface is 1.5 mass% or more and 2.4 mass% or less, In the billet, an iron content X5 in a fourth region between the fourth end surface and a virtual plane S5 that is 5 mm away from the fourth end surface is 2.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, The absolute value of the difference between the iron content X4 and the iron content X5 is 1.0 mass% or more, In the second step, the hot extrusion is performed so that the third end face of the billet becomes a leading end in an extrusion direction.

[0021] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an aluminum alloy material having improved uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] (10) In the above (9), the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder may have an average particle size of 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less, thereby further improving the uniformity of the hardness of the aluminum alloy material.

[0023] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the aluminum alloy material and the manufacturing method of the aluminum alloy material of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings of the present disclosure, the same reference symbols represent the same or corresponding parts. In addition, dimensional relationships such as length, width, thickness, and depth are appropriately changed for clarity and simplification of the drawings, and do not necessarily represent actual dimensional relationships.

[0024] In this specification, the expression "A to B" means the upper and lower limits of a range (i.e., A or more and B or less). When no unit is specified for A and a unit is specified only for B, the unit of A and the unit of B are the same.

[0025] In the present specification, when a compound or the like is represented by a chemical formula, unless the atomic ratio is particularly limited, it is understood to include any conventionally known atomic ratio, and is not necessarily limited to only those within the stoichiometric range.

[0026] In the present disclosure, when one or more numerical values ​​are described as the lower limit and the upper limit of a numerical range, a combination of any one numerical value described as the lower limit and any one numerical value described as the upper limit is also disclosed. For example, when a1 or more, b1 or more, and c1 or more are described as the lower limit, and a2 or less, b2 or less, and c2 or less are described as the upper limit, a1 or more and a2 or less, a1 or more and b2 or less, a1 or more and c2 or less, b1 or more and a2 or less, b1 or more and b2 or less, b1 or more and c2 or less, c1 or more and a2 or less, c1 or more and b2 or less, and c1 or more and c2 or less are disclosed.

[0027] [Embodiment 1: Aluminum alloy material] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a typical configuration example of an aluminum alloy material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, an aluminum alloy material 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter also referred to as "embodiment 1") includes: An aluminum alloy material 1 made of an aluminum alloy, The average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 is 1.5% by mass or more and 5.4% by mass or less, The aluminum alloy material 1 includes a first main body portion 2 extending in a first direction, a first end surface 3 of the first main body portion 2, and a second end surface 4 opposite to the first end surface 3 when viewed along the first direction, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 at the first cross section 5 of the first body portion 2 and the Vickers hardness H2 at the second cross section 6 of the first body portion 2 is 5 HV or less; The first cross section 5 is a cross section obtained by cutting the first main body portion 2 along a virtual plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end surface 3, The second cross section 6 is a cross section of the aluminum alloy material 1 obtained by cutting the first main body portion 2 along an imaginary plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end face 4.

[0028] In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 at the first cross section 5 of the first body portion 2 and the Vickers hardness H2 at the second cross section 6 of the first body portion 2 is 5 HV or less. Therefore, the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1 has improved uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction.

[0029] <Shape> As shown in FIG. 1, the aluminum alloy material 1 of embodiment 1 comprises a first main body portion 2 extending in a first direction, a first end face 3 of the first main body portion 2, and a second end face 4 opposite the first end face 3 when viewed along the first direction.

[0030] The shape of the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the application. As shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 11, examples of the shape of the aluminum alloy material 1 include a channel (Fig. 2), an unequal angle (Fig. 3), an equal angle (Fig. 4), a flat bar (Fig. 5), a square bar (Fig. 6), a round bar (Fig. 7), a square pipe (Fig. 8), a round pipe (Fig. 9), an H-shape (Fig. 10), and a T-shape (Fig. 11).

[0031] Length L mm from the first end face 3 to the second end face 4 along the first direction of the aluminum alloy material 1 of embodiment 1, and area Y mm of the minimum circumscribed circle of the first end face 3 2 By L 2 / Y≧5. 2 / Y may be 10 or more, or 100 or more. 2 The upper limit of / Y is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1,000,000 or less. 2 / Y may be 5 or more and 1,000,000 or less, 10 or more and 1,000,000 or less, or 100 or more and 1,000,000 or less.

[0032] The length L from the first end face 3 to the second end face 4 along the first direction of the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1 can be appropriately selected depending on the application. The length L may be 10 mm or more and 4000 mm or less, 50 mm or more and 2000 mm or less, or 100 mm or more and 1000 mm or less.

[0033] The aluminum alloy material 1 of the first embodiment may be an extruded material.

[0034] <Composition> The aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1 is made of an aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy contains an additive element and is an alloy based on aluminum (Al). In the embodiment 1, the aluminum alloy contains iron (Fe) as an additive element.

[0035] Iron The average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 is 1.5% by mass or more and 5.4% by mass or less. When the lower limit of the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 is 1.5% by mass or more, the effect of improving the hardness of the Al alloy material is easily obtained. The lower limit of the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 2% by mass or more, or 3% by mass or more, from the viewpoint of improving the hardness. When the upper limit of the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 is 5.4% by mass or less, the embrittlement of the aluminum alloy material 1 is easily suppressed ... The upper limit of the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 5% by mass or less, or 4% by mass or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing the embrittlement of the aluminum alloy material 1. The average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 2% by mass or more and 4% by mass or less, or 3% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.

[0036] In the present disclosure, the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1 is measured as follows. Step A1: The first body portion 2 of the aluminum alloy material 1 is cut along an imaginary plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end face 3 to expose a first cross section 5. When the first end face 3 has irregularities, the imaginary plane S1 is set by the following procedure. On the first end face 3, a position P1 that is closest to the center of the first body portion 2 when viewed along the first direction is identified. An imaginary plane S11 that includes the position P1 and has the first direction as its normal line is set. The plane that is 1 mm away from the imaginary plane S11 toward the center of the first body portion 2 corresponds to the imaginary plane S1. In the measurement of Vickers hardness described later, the procedure for setting the imaginary plane S1 when the first end face 3 has irregularities is the same as that described above.

[0037] In the aluminum alloy material including the exposed first cross section 5, first measurement samples are taken from three arbitrary locations within a region that is within a distance of 1 mm from the first cross section 5.

[0038] Step A2: The first body portion 2 of the aluminum alloy material 1 is cut along a virtual plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end face 4 to expose the second cross section 6. When the second end face 4 has irregularities, the virtual plane S2 is set by the following procedure. On the second end face 4, a position P2 that is closest to the center of the first body portion 2 when viewed along the first direction is identified. A virtual plane S21 that includes the position P2 and has the first direction as its normal line is set. The plane that is 1 mm away from the virtual plane S21 toward the center of the first body portion 2 corresponds to the virtual plane S2. In the measurement of Vickers hardness described later, the procedure for setting the virtual plane S2 when the second end face 4 has irregularities is the same as that described above.

[0039] In the aluminum alloy material including the exposed second cross section 6, second measurement samples are taken from any three locations within a region that is located within 1 mm away from the second cross section 6.

[0040] Step A3: The first body portion 2 of the aluminum alloy material 1 is cut along an imaginary plane S3 located midway between the first cross section 5 and the second cross section 6 to expose a third cross section. In the aluminum alloy material including the first cross section 5 and the third cross section, third measurement samples are taken from any three locations within a region that is 1 mm or less away from the third cross section.

[0041] Step A4: The iron content is measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectrometry for each of the three first measurement samples, three second measurement samples, and three third measurement samples. The average of the iron contents of the nine measurement samples (three each of the first measurement samples, the second measurement samples, and the third measurement samples) is calculated. In the present disclosure, the average corresponds to the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1. The average neodymium content and the average content of other added elements (also referred to as "first elements") and the impurity content of the aluminum alloy material 1 described later are also obtained by measuring the content of each element in each of the nine measurement samples and calculating the average.

[0042] The iron content X1 in the first cross section 5 of the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1 may be 1.5 mass% or more and 2.4 mass% or less, and the iron content X2 in the second cross section 6 may be 2.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less.

[0043] From the viewpoint of improving hardness, the iron content X1 in the first cross section 5 of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 1.6 mass% or more and 2.3 mass% or less, or may be 1.7 mass% or more and 2.2 mass% or less. In the present disclosure, the iron content X1 in the first cross section 5 of the aluminum alloy material 1 corresponds to an average of the iron contents of three first measurement samples measured based on steps A1 and A4 of the measurement method for the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1.

[0044] The iron content X2 in the second cross section 6 of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 2.6 mass% or more and 5.3 mass% or less, or may be 2.7 mass% or more and 5.2 mass% or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing embrittlement of the aluminum alloy material 1. In the present disclosure, the iron content X2 in the second cross section 6 of the aluminum alloy material 1 corresponds to an average of the iron contents of three second measurement samples measured based on steps A2 and A4 of the measurement method for the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1.

[0045] In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the first embodiment, the iron content X1 at the first cross section 5, the iron content X2 at the second cross section 6, and the iron content X3 at the third cross section may have the following relationship. X1≦X3≦X2

[0046] The iron content X3 may be 1.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, 1.6 mass% or more and 5.3 mass% or less, or 1.7 mass% or more and 5.2 mass% or less. In the present disclosure, the iron content X3 in the third cross section of the aluminum alloy material 1 corresponds to an average of the iron contents of three third measurement samples measured based on steps A3 and A4 of the measurement method for the average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material 1.

[0047] <Neodymium> In the first embodiment, the aluminum alloy may contain neodymium (Nd). The average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 0.002% by mass or more and 1.5% by mass or less, or may be 0.002% by mass or more and 1% by mass or less. When the lower limit of the average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material 1 is 0.002% by mass or more, the effect of improving the hardness of the aluminum alloy material 1 is easily obtained. From the viewpoint of improving the hardness, the lower limit of the average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 0.01% by mass or more, or may be 0.05% by mass or more. When the upper limit of the average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material 1 is 1% by mass or less, the embrittlement of the aluminum alloy material 1 is easily suppressed. From the viewpoint of suppressing the embrittlement of the aluminum alloy material 1, the upper limit of the average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 0.5% by mass or less, or may be 0.2% by mass or less. The average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material 1 may be 0.01 mass % or more and 0.5 mass % or less, 0.05 mass % or more and 0.2 mass % or less, or 0.07 mass % or more and 0.2 mass % or less.

[0048] <Other additive elements> In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the first embodiment, the aluminum alloy may contain an element other than iron and neodymium as an additive element. Examples of the additive element other than iron and neodymium include at least one first element selected from the group consisting of Cr (chromium), Ni (nickel), Co (cobalt), Ti (titanium), W (tungsten), Sc (scandium), Zr (zirconium), Nb (niobium), Hf (hafnium), rare earth elements (excluding Nd), B (boron) and C (carbon). The average content of the first element in the aluminum alloy material 1 may be, for example, 0.01 mass% or more and 0.4 mass% or less, or 0.05 mass% or more and 0.1 mass% or less. Here, the average content of the first element in the aluminum alloy material 1 means the average content of the total of all the first elements when there are two or more types of first elements.

[0049] Impurities In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1, examples of the impurities include Si (silicon), Cu (copper), and O (oxygen). The total content of the impurities in the aluminum alloy material 1 may be, for example, 0.2 mass% or less, 0.1 mass% or less, or 0.05 mass% or less.

[0050] In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1, the aluminum alloy may contain iron, with the balance being aluminum and impurities. In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment 1, the aluminum alloy may contain iron and at least one first element selected from the group consisting of neodymium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, titanium, tungsten, scandium, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, rare earth elements (excluding Nd), boron, and carbon, with the balance being aluminum and impurities.

[0051] <Vickers hardness> In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the first embodiment, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 at the first cross section 5 of the first body portion 2 and the Vickers hardness H2 at the second cross section 6 of the first body portion 2 may be 5 HV or less. This improves the uniformity of the hardness in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum alloy material 1. In the present disclosure, the first cross section 5 is a cross section obtained by cutting the first body portion 2 at an imaginary plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end face 3. The second cross section 6 is a cross section obtained by cutting the first body portion 2 at an imaginary plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end face 4.

[0052] From the viewpoint of improving the uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H2 may be 4HV or less, 3HV or less, 2HV or less, 1HV or less, or 0HV. The Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H2 may be larger or the same. In other words, H1 may be greater than H2, and H1 may be greater than H2. <H2でもよく、H1=H2であってもよい。

[0053] In the aluminum alloy material 1 of the embodiment, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H3 in the cross section at the center of the first main body portion 2 when viewed along the first direction may be 5 HV or less, and the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H2 and the Vickers hardness H3 may be 5 HV or less. This further improves the uniformity of the hardness in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum alloy material 1.

[0054] From the viewpoint of improving the uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H3 may be 5HV or less, 4HV or less, 3HV or less, 2HV or less, 1HV or less, or 0HV. The Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H3 may be larger or the same. That is, H1 may be greater than H3, and H1 may be greater than H3. <H3でもよく、または、H1=H3であってもよい。

[0055] From the viewpoint of improving the uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction, the absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H2 and the Vickers hardness H3 may be 5HV or less, 4HV or less, 3HV or less, 2HV or less, 1HV or less, or 0HV. The Vickers hardness H2 and the Vickers hardness H3 may be larger or the same. In other words, H2 may be greater than H3, and H2 may be greater than H3. <H3でもよく、または、H2=H3であってもよい。

[0056] The Vickers hardness H1 may be 50 HV or more and 90 HV or less, 55 HV or more and 85 HV or less, or 60 HV or more and 80 HV or less.

[0057] The Vickers hardness H2 may be 50 HV or more and 90 HV or less, 55 HV or more and 85 HV or less, or 60 HV or more and 80 HV or less.

[0058] The Vickers hardness H3 may be 50 HV or more and 90 HV or less, 55 HV or more and 85 HV or less, or 60 HV or more and 80 HV or less.

[0059] In the present disclosure, the Vickers hardness H1, Vickers hardness H2, and Vickers hardness H3 of the aluminum alloy material 1 are measured in the following manner.

[0060] The first body portion 2 of the aluminum alloy material 1 is cut at an imaginary plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end face 3 to expose the first cross section 5. The first cross section 5 is embedded in resin and polished to a mirror finish. Vickers hardness is measured at five locations on the mirror finished first cross section 5. The five measurement locations are set by the following procedure. On the mirror finished first cross section 5, a measurement location B1 that is closest to the center of the minimum circumscribing circle of the first cross section 5 is set. If the center of the minimum circumscribing circle is located on the first cross section 5, the center of the minimum circumscribing circle becomes the measurement location B1.

[0061] Using measurement point B1 as a reference, four different measurement points B2, B3, B4, and B5 are set as close as possible to measurement point B1. When setting the five points, the distance between the centers of the indentations (between the indentations) and the distance from the center of the indentation to the edge of the sample (test piece) are adjusted as specified in Table 4 of JIS Z 2244:2009 "Vickers hardness test - Test method" 7 test f). The average h1 of the Vickers hardness of the five points is calculated. In this disclosure, the average h1 corresponds to the Vickers hardness H1.

[0062] The first main body portion 2 of the aluminum alloy material 1 is cut at a virtual plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end face 4 to expose the second cross section 6. The second cross section 6 is embedded in resin and polished to a mirror finish. The Vickers hardness is measured at five points on the mirror finish second cross section 6. The five points are set by the same procedure as the five points on the first cross section 5. The average h2 of the Vickers hardness at the five points is calculated. In the present disclosure, the average h2 corresponds to the Vickers hardness H2.

[0063] The first body portion 2 of the aluminum alloy material 1 is cut along a virtual plane S3 located midway between the first cross section 5 and the second cross section 6 to expose the third cross section. In the aluminum alloy material including the first cross section 5 and the third cross section, the third cross section is embedded in resin and polished to a mirror finish. The Vickers hardness is measured at five locations on the mirror finished third cross section. The five locations are set by the same procedure as the five locations on the first cross section 5. The average h3 of the Vickers hardness at the five locations is calculated. In the present disclosure, the average h3 corresponds to the Vickers hardness H3.

[0064] Vickers hardness is measured using a Vickers hardness tester (manufactured by Mitutoyo Corporation). Vickers hardness is measured in accordance with JIS Z 2244:2009 "Vickers hardness test - Test method". The test load is 0.49N (50gf). The test temperature is 23℃±5℃. In this test, the Vickers hardness is measured in the surface layer region of the cross section (region from the surface to a depth of 100μm).

[0065] [Embodiment 2: Method for producing aluminum alloy material] 12 is a diagram illustrating a representative configuration example of a billet 7 used in a method for producing an aluminum alloy material 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A method for producing an aluminum alloy material 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter also referred to as "embodiment 2") is a method for producing an aluminum alloy material 1 according to embodiment 1, a first step of compressing the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder to obtain a billet; A second step of obtaining an aluminum alloy material 1 by hot extruding the billet 7, The billet 7 includes a second body portion 8 extending in a second direction, a third end surface 9 of the second body portion 8, and a fourth end surface 11 opposite to the third end surface 9 when viewed along the second direction, In the billet 7, the iron content X4 in a third region 10 between the third end surface 9 and a virtual plane S4 that is 5 mm away from the third end surface 9 is 1.5 mass% or more and 2.4 mass% or less, In the billet 7, the iron content X5 in a fourth region 12 between the fourth end surface 11 and a virtual plane S5 that is 5 mm away from the fourth end surface 11 is 2.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, The absolute value of the difference between the iron content X4 and the iron content X5 is 1.0 mass% or more, In the second step, hot extrusion is performed so that the third end surface 9 of the billet 7 is the leading end in the extrusion direction.

[0066] According to the manufacturing method of the second embodiment, it is possible to provide an aluminum alloy material 1 having improved uniformity in hardness in the longitudinal direction. This is presumably because the iron content is higher toward the rear end of the billet 7, so that the iron content at the rear end of the extruded material is higher, enhancing dispersion strengthening, solid-solution strengthening, and grain refinement strengthening by iron.

[0067] <First step> In the first step, the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder is compressed to obtain a billet 7. As the rapidly solidified aluminum powder, any known rapidly solidified aluminum powder can be used.

[0068] The average particle size of the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder may be 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less, or 20 μm or more and 40 μm or less. The average particle size of the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder is the mean volume diameter. The average particle size can be measured using a particle size distribution measuring device (product name: MT3300EX) manufactured by Microtrac. When a mixed powder of multiple rapidly solidified aluminum powders having different compositions is used as the rapidly solidified aluminum powder, the average particle size of the rapidly solidified aluminum powder refers to the average particle size of the mixed powder.

[0069] The composition of the rapidly solidified aluminum powder is appropriately selected so as to obtain a billet 7 having a desired composition. Here, the desired composition means that the iron content X4 in the third region 10 of the billet 7 is 1.5 mass% or more and 2.4 mass% or less, the iron content X5 in the fourth region 12 of the billet 7 is 2.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, and the absolute value of the difference between the iron content X4 and the iron content X5 is 1.0 mass% or more.

[0070] A billet 7 having a desired composition can be produced, for example, by filling rapidly solidified aluminum powders having different iron contents in a cylindrical can in the axial direction of the can, followed by spark plasma sintering. The conditions for the spark plasma sintering can be, for example, an ultimate temperature of 573K to 933K, a pressure of 1MPa to 30MPa, a holding time of 1 minute to 60 minutes, and a vacuum of 1 Pa or less. Alternatively, the powders may be directly filled in a sintering mold in sequence, without using a cylindrical can, followed by spark plasma sintering. Alternatively, the billet may be cold-formed into a cylindrical shape by cold isostatic pressing.

[0071] Another example of a method for producing a billet 7 having a desired composition is to produce the billet 7 by stacking a plurality of cylindrical billet precursors in a direction along the extrusion direction of hot extrusion in the second step, as shown in FIG. 13. The extrusion direction of hot extrusion in the second step is parallel to the second direction in which the second main body portion 8 of the billet 7 shown in FIG. 12 extends. The extrusion direction is, for example, a direction from the fourth end face 11 toward the third end face 9. Hereinafter, the billet 7 produced by stacking a plurality of billet precursors is referred to as a billet stack 13. Hereinafter, the description will be given with one end face of the billet stack 13 as the third end face 9 of the billet 7 and the other end face as the fourth end face 11 of the billet 7.

[0072] The billet stack 13 shown in Figure 13 consists of a first billet precursor 13a including a third end face 9, a second billet precursor 13b provided in contact with the end face of the first billet precursor 13a opposite the third end face 9, a third billet precursor 13c provided in contact with the end face of the second billet precursor 13b opposite the first billet precursor 13a, and a fourth billet precursor 13d including a fourth end face 11 provided in contact with the end face of the third billet precursor 13c opposite the second billet precursor 13b.

[0073] The average iron content of the first billet precursor 13a is 1.5% by mass or more and 2.4% by mass or less, and the length of the first billet precursor 13a along the extrusion direction is 5 mm or more. The average iron content of the fourth billet precursor 13d is 2.5% by mass or more and 5.4% by mass or less, and the length of the fourth billet precursor 13d along the extrusion direction is 5 mm or more. The absolute value of the difference between the average iron content of the first billet precursor 13a and the average iron content of the fourth billet precursor 13d is 1.0% by mass or more. The billet stack 13 corresponds to a billet 7 in which the iron content X4 in the third region 10 of the billet 7 is 1.5% by mass or more and 2.4% by mass or less, the iron content X5 in the fourth region 12 of the billet 7 is 2.5% by mass or more and 5.4% by mass or less, and the absolute value of the difference between the iron content X4 and the iron content X5 is 1.0% by mass or more.

[0074] From the viewpoint of improving hardness, the iron content X4 in the third region 10 of the billet 7 may be 1.6 mass % or more and 2.3 mass % or less, or 1.7 mass % or more and 2.2 mass % or less.

[0075] From the viewpoint of suppressing embrittlement, the iron content X5 in the fourth region 12 of the billet 7 may be 2.6 mass % or more and 5.3 mass % or less, or 2.7 mass % or more and 5.2 mass % or less.

[0076] From the viewpoint of improving hardness, the absolute value of the difference between the iron content X4 and the iron content X5 may be 1.0 mass% or more and 3.9 mass% or less, 2.5 mass% or more and 3.8 mass% or less, or 2.7 mass% or more and 3.0 mass% or less.

[0077] The iron content X4, the iron content X5, and the average iron content X6 in a fifth region within 5 mm from the cross section at the center of the second body portion 8 when viewed along the second direction may have the following relationship: X4≦X6≦X5, and X5-X4≧1.0

[0078] The average iron content X6 may be 1.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, 1.6 mass% or more and 5.3 mass% or less, or 1.7 mass% or more and 5.2 mass% or less.

[0079] In the present disclosure, the iron content X4 in the third region 10, the iron content X5 in the fourth region 12, and the average iron content X6 in the fifth region of the billet 7 are measured as follows.

[0080] Measurement samples are taken at three arbitrary positions in the third region 10 of the billet 7. The iron content of each of the three measurement samples is measured by ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The average of the iron contents of the three measurement samples is calculated. In the present disclosure, the average corresponds to the iron content X4 in the third region of the billet 7. The third region 10 of the billet 7 is a region sandwiched between the third end face 9 and a virtual plane S4 that is 5 mm away from the third end face 9. When the third end face 9 has an uneven surface, the virtual plane S4 is set by the following procedure. On the third end face 9, a position P3 that is closest to the center of the second main body portion 8 when viewed along the second direction is identified. A virtual plane S13 that includes the position P3 and has the second direction as a normal line is set. A plane that is 5 mm away from the virtual plane S13 toward the center of the second main body portion 8 corresponds to the virtual plane S4.

[0081] Measurement samples are taken at three arbitrary positions in the fourth region 12 of the billet 7. The iron content of each of the three measurement samples is measured by ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The average of the iron contents of the three measurement samples is calculated. In the present disclosure, the average corresponds to the iron content X5 of the fourth region 12 of the billet 7. The fourth region 12 of the billet 7 is a region sandwiched between the fourth end face 11 and a virtual plane S5 that is 5 mm away from the fourth end face 11. When the fourth end face 11 has an uneven surface, the virtual plane S5 is set by the following procedure. On the fourth end face 11, a position P4 that is closest to the center of the second main body portion 8 when viewed along the second direction is identified. A virtual plane S14 that includes the position P4 and has the second direction as a normal line is set. A plane that is 5 mm away from the virtual plane S14 toward the center of the second main body portion 8 corresponds to the virtual plane S5.

[0082] The second body portion 8 of the billet 7 is cut along an imaginary plane located midway between the third end face 9 and the fourth end face 11 to expose a cross section. Measurement samples are taken from any three locations in the fifth region that are within a distance of 5 mm from the exposed cross section of the billet 7, including the third end face 9. The iron content of each of the three measurement samples is measured by ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The average of the iron contents of the three measurement samples is calculated. In the present disclosure, this average corresponds to the iron content X5 in the fifth region of the billet 7.

[0083] The billet stack 13 may be in a state where a plurality of billet precursors are stacked in a container 15 used in hot extrusion. The billet precursors may or may not be bonded to each other.

[0084] The billet precursor can be produced, for example, by filling a cylindrical can with rapidly solidified aluminum powder and performing spark plasma sintering. The conditions for the spark plasma sintering are, for example, a final temperature of 573K to 933K, a pressure of 1MPa to 60MPa, a holding time of 1 minute to 60 minutes, and a vacuum degree of 10. -1 Pa or less.

[0085] The billet stack 13 can be produced by preheating the billet precursor in air at 618 K for 2 hours, stacking them, and hot compressing them in a mold at a temperature of 573 K to 933 K and a load of 1400 kN in the stacking direction (corresponding to the extension direction of the second main body portion 8 of the billet 7).

[0086] <Second process> In the second step, the billet 7 is hot extruded to obtain the aluminum alloy material 1. In the second step, the hot extrusion is performed so that the third end surface 9 of the billet 7 becomes the leading end in the extrusion direction.

[0087] Hot extrusion can be performed, for example, by using an extruder 14 consisting of a horizontal hydraulic press shown in Fig. 14. The extruder 14 can include a container 15, a die 16 provided in the container 15, a ram 17 for extruding the billet 7, and a hydraulic press (not shown) for applying a force in the extrusion direction to the ram 17. The die 16 has a through hole formed therein for forming the aluminum alloy material 1 into a desired shape.

[0088] The billet 7 is placed between the die 16 and the ram 17. The billet 7 is placed so that the third end surface 9 faces the die 16. The aluminum alloy material 1 can be obtained by extruding the billet 7 with the ram 17. The extrusion conditions can be set as follows: a container temperature of the extruder 14 is 573K to 933K, a billet preheating temperature is 573K to 933K, a die preheating temperature is 573K to 933K, and a ram speed is 0.1mm / s to 10mm / s. EXAMPLES

[0089] The present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to examples, although the present embodiment is not limited to these examples.

[0090] <Preparation of aluminum alloy materials> A rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder was prepared. The composition of the rapidly solidified aluminum powder (also referred to as "Al alloy powder" in Table 1) is shown in Table 1.

[0091] [Table 1]

[0092] As materials for the billet precursor, Al-1.5% Fe powder, Al-2.3% Fe powder, Al-5% Fe powder, and Al-6.5% Fe powder were weighed out in the amounts shown in the "Mixed Powder" column in Table 2, sealed in a glass bottle with an inner diameter of 150 mm and a height of 200 mm, and after replacing the inside with nitrogen, rotated at a speed of 100 revolutions per minute for 10 minutes to obtain a mixed powder. The average particle size of the mixed powder is as shown in the "Average particle size" column of "Mixed Powder" in Table 2. Hereinafter, for convenience, even when one type of rapidly solidified aluminum powder is used, it will be referred to as a mixed powder.

[0093] [Table 2]

[0094] The mixed powder was filled into a cylindrical can and subjected to spark plasma sintering to produce cylindrical billet precursors A1 to A4, B1 to B4, C1 to C4, D1 to D2, E1 to E4, F1 to F4, G1 to G2, and H1 to H4, each having a diameter of 42 mm and a height of 23 mm. The conditions for the spark plasma sintering were: final temperature 623 K, applied pressure 20 MPa, holding time 5 minutes, and vacuum degree 10. -1 The average iron content of each billet precursor is shown in Table 2.

[0095] Each billet precursor was preheated at 618K for 2 hours in air. Two or four of the billet precursors were then stacked and hot compressed in the stacking direction in a die having an inner diameter of 42 mm at a temperature of 633K and a load of 1400kN to obtain a billet consisting of a billet stack having the configuration shown in FIG. 13. The arrangement of each billet precursor in the billet stack was as shown in the "Billet stack" column of Table 3. The iron content X4 in the third region and the iron content X5 in the fourth region of each billet were as shown in Table 3.

[0096] [Table 3]

[0097] The billet stack was placed between the die 16 and the ram 17 of the extruder 14 shown in FIG. 14. The inner diameter of the container was 42 mm. The billet stack was placed so that the first billet was on the die 16 side. The billet was extruded by the ram 17 to obtain a plate-shaped aluminum alloy material having a thickness of 1.5 mm and a width of 18.6 mm. The extrusion conditions were a container temperature of 673 K, a billet preheating temperature of 693 K, a die preheating temperature of 773 K, and a ram speed of 6 mm / s. The aluminum alloy material of each sample had a first main body portion extending in a first direction, a first end face of the first main body portion, and a second end face opposite to the first end face when viewed along the first direction. The length of the aluminum alloy material of each sample was as shown in the "Length L" column of Table 5.

[0098] <Aluminum alloy material evaluation> <Vickers hardness> For each aluminum alloy sample, the Vickers hardness H1 of the first cross section of the first main body, the Vickers hardness H2 of the second cross section, and the Vickers hardness H3 of the cross section at the center of the first main body were measured. The specific measurement method is as described in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the absolute value of the difference between H1 and H2 was calculated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0099] <Iron content> In each sample of the aluminum alloy material, the average iron content X, the iron content X1 in the first cross section, the iron content X2 in the second cross section, and the iron content X3 in the third cross section were measured. The specific measurement method was as described in the first embodiment. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0100] [Table 4]

[0101] <Neodymium content> The average neodymium content of each aluminum alloy sample was measured, and the results are shown in the "Nd content" column of Table 5.

[0102] <Length L and area Y of the smallest circumscribed circle> The length L of each aluminum alloy sample and the area Y of the smallest circumscribed circle, and 2 / Y is as shown in Table 5.

[0103] [Table 5]

[0104] <Consideration> The manufacturing methods of the aluminum alloy materials of Samples 1 to 5 correspond to the examples. The aluminum alloy materials of Samples 1 to 5 had a difference between Vickers hardness H1 and Vickers hardness H2 of 5HV or less, and had improved uniformity of hardness in the longitudinal direction.

[0105] The manufacturing methods of the aluminum alloy materials of Samples 1-1 to 1-3 correspond to comparative examples. The aluminum alloy materials of Samples 1-1 to 1-3 had a difference between Vickers hardness H1 and Vickers hardness H2 of 6HV or more, and the hardness was non-uniform in the longitudinal direction.

[0106] Although the embodiments and examples of the present disclosure have been described above, it is intended from the outset that the configurations of the above-described embodiments and examples may be appropriately combined or modified in various ways. The embodiments and examples disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered as limiting. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the embodiments and examples described above, and is intended to include the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1. Aluminum alloy material 2 First body part 3 First end surface 4 Second end face 5 First cross section 6 Second cross section 7 Billet 8 Second body part 9 Third end face 10 Third area 11 Fourth end surface 12 Fourth area 13 Billet stack 13a First billet precursor 13b Second billet precursor 13b 13c Third billet precursor 13d Fourth billet precursor 14 Extruder 15 Container 16 Dice 17 Ram

Claims

1. An aluminum alloy material made of an aluminum alloy, The average iron content X of the aluminum alloy material is 1.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, The aluminum alloy material includes a first main body portion extending in a first direction, a first end surface of the first main body portion, and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface when viewed along the first direction, an absolute value of a difference between a Vickers hardness H1 at a first cross section of the first body portion and a Vickers hardness H2 at a second cross section of the first body portion is 5 HV or less; The first cross section is a cross section obtained by cutting the first main body portion along a virtual plane S1 that is 1 mm away from the first end surface, The second cross section is an aluminum alloy material obtained by cutting the first main body portion along an imaginary plane S2 that is 1 mm away from the second end surface.

2. The iron content X1 in the first cross section is 1.5 mass% or more and 2.4 mass% or less, The aluminum alloy material according to claim 1, wherein the iron content X2 in the second cross section is 2.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less.

3. a length L mm from the first end surface to the second end surface along the first direction of the aluminum alloy material, and an area Y mm of a minimum circumscribed circle of the first end surface ２ By L ２ The aluminum alloy material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aluminum alloy material satisfies the relationship of / Y≧5.

4. The aluminum alloy material according to claim 3, wherein the length L is 10 mm or more and 4000 mm or less.

5. The absolute value of the difference between the Vickers hardness H1 and the Vickers hardness H3 in a cross section at the center of the first main body portion when viewed along the first direction is 5 HV or less, and 3. The aluminum alloy material according to claim 1, wherein an absolute value of a difference between the Vickers hardness H2 and the Vickers hardness H3 is 5 HV or less.

6. The aluminum alloy material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average neodymium content of the aluminum alloy material is 0.002 mass% or more and 1 mass% or less.

7. The aluminum alloy material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aluminum alloy material is an extruded material.

8. The aluminum alloy material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Vickers hardness H1 is 50 HV or more and 90 HV or less.

9. A method for producing an aluminum alloy material according to claim 1 or 2, A first step of compacting the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder to obtain a billet; A second step of obtaining an aluminum alloy material by hot extruding the billet, The billet includes a second body portion extending in a second direction, a third end surface of the second body portion, and a fourth end surface opposite the third end surface when viewed along the second direction, In the billet, an iron content X4 in a third region between the third end surface and a virtual plane S4 that is 5 mm away from the third end surface is 1.5 mass% or more and 2.4 mass% or less, In the billet, an iron content X5 in a fourth region between the fourth end surface and a virtual plane S5 that is 5 mm away from the fourth end surface is 2.5 mass% or more and 5.4 mass% or less, The absolute value of the difference between the iron content X4 and the iron content X5 is 1.0 mass% or more, In the second step, the hot extrusion is performed so that the third end face of the billet is a leading end in an extrusion direction.

10. The method for producing an aluminum alloy material according to claim 9, wherein the rapidly solidified aluminum alloy powder has an average particle size of 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less.

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