Annealing Behavior of Cold Rolling Sheets of a Continuous Cast Al-1.5Cu Alloy with Potential Application to Low-Cost Auto Forming Parts or Sheets

The annealing behavior of cold rolling (CR) sheets of continuous castingContinuous Casting (CC) Al-1.5Cu alloyAlloys by using a tensile machine, optical and scanning electronic microscopes, and X-ray diffraction methodMethod was evaluated and studied overall. Compared with AA2024, Si and Fe amounts of the alloyAlloys were controlled at a low level; Mn and Mg amounts were controlled at a low limit of AA2024 alloyAlloys; Cu is selected at a low level (1.1–2.2%) due to the requirement of twin belt continuous cast processingContinuous cast processing. Compared to AA5xxx and AA3xxx alloysAlloys, material characteristic after annealing at different temperatures of cold rolling sheets of the Al-1.5Cu alloyAlloys are very different with some interesting special findings, such as the precipitation and solid solution of AlCu phase as well as P orientation ({011}<566>) textureTexture appearing, and so on. Annealing curves show a V shape with the annealing temperature increase. The findings would affect potentially and importantly subsequent processingProcessing (such as solid solution heat treatmentHeat treatment, quenching, forming, and agingAging) for application (replace AA5xxx-O sheet) to low-cost auto forming parts or sheets.