(19)
(11) EP 1 359 232 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/01

(43) Date of publication A2:
05.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/45

(21) Application number: 03015053.6

(22) Date of filing: 30.01.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7C22C 21/00, C22C 21/12, C22F 1/057
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 31.01.1997 US 36329

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
98903777.5 / 0981653

(71) Applicant: Pechiney Rolled Products, LLC
Ravenswood, WV 26164 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Cho, Alex
    Richmond, VA 23233 (US)
  • Skillingberg, Michael
    Richmond, VA 23225 (US)
  • Greene, Richard
    Hinsdale, IL 60521 (US)
  • Niedzinski, Michael
    Park Ridge, IL 60068 (US)

(74) Representative: Mougeot, Jean-Claude 
PECHINEY, 217, cours Lafayette
69451 Lyon Cedex 06
69451 Lyon Cedex 06 (FR)

   


(54) Method of improving fracture toughness in aluminium-lithium alloys


(57) An aluminum-lithium alloy is processed with controlled amounts of copper, lithium, manganese and zirconium to produce a product having improved fracture toughness in the short longitudinal (S-L) direction and acceptable strength in the short transverse (ST) direction.





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