Patent ID: 7105067

Claim:
A method for an aging treatment for aluminum-lithium alloy C458, comprising the steps of: providing an aluminum-lithium alloy C458 material, wherein said aluminum-lithium alloy C458 material is in T3 condition; and conducting a two-step aging treatment on said aluminum-lithium alloy C458 material, wherein T8 temper material properties and a toughness at cryogenic temperatures in the range of about 49 ksi√in to about 54 ksi√in compared to a toughness of about 48 ksi√in at room temperature are provided, wherein said toughness at cryogenic temperatures is increased compared to said toughness at room temperature, and wherein said two-step aging treatment includes the steps of: aging said aluminum-lithium alloy C458 material in a first step aging treatment within a temperature range of above 200° F. to about 250° F. for a duration within a range of about 12 hours to 192 hours; and aging said aluminum-lithium alloy C458 material in a second step aging treatment within a temperature range of about 275° F. to 310° F. for a duration within a range of about 12 hours to 96 hours.