Patent ID: 7614539

Claim:
A method for forming an aluminum-alloy article processed by linear friction welding having improved ductility and elongation, the method consisting of: providing a pair of pieces of an aluminum alloy material; forming an aluminum alloy material using a linear friction welding process; annealing the joined aluminum alloy material to release stored energy created during linear friction welding within said aluminum alloy material at about 725 degrees Fahrenheit for a sufficient period of time to release said stored energy within said aluminum alloy material; cooling said aluminum alloy material; and directly thereafter solution treating and aging said aluminum alloy material to form the aluminum-alloy article; wherein said solution treating and aging said aluminum alloy material comprises: heating said aluminum alloy material to a solutionizing temperature; holding said aluminum alloy material at said solutionizing temperature for a predetermined amount of time; quenching said aluminum alloy material; and aging said aluminum alloy material at between about 250 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit.