Aluminum alloys, and methods for producing the same

Abstract

New aluminum alloys are disclosed and generally include 0.6-1.4 wt. % Si, 0.25-0.90 wt. % Mg, wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is from 1.05:1 to 5.0:1, 0.25-2.0 wt. % Cu, 0.10-3.5 wt. % Zn, 0.01-1.0 wt. % Fe, up to 0.8 wt. % Mn, up to 0.25 wt. % Cr, up to 0.20 wt. % Zr, up to 0.20 wt. % V, and up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, wherein the total of Fe+Mn+Cr+Zr+V+Ti is not greater than 2.0 wt. %, the balance being aluminum and impurities. The new aluminum alloys may include Q phase precipitates. In some embodiments, the solvus temperature of the Q phase precipitates is not greater than 950° F.

Claims

1. An aluminum alloy comprising: 0.6-1.4 wt. % Si; 0.25-0.90 wt. % Mg; wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is from 1.05:1 to 5.0:1; 0.25-2.0 wt. % Cu; 0.10-3.5 wt. % Zn; 0.01-1.0 wt. % Fe; up to 0.8 wt. % Mn; up to 0.25 wt. % Cr; up to 0.20 wt. % Zr; up to 0.20 wt. % V; up to 0.15 wt. % Ti; wherein the total of Fe+Mn+Cr+Zr+V+Ti is not greater than 2.0 wt. %; the balance being aluminum and impurities; wherein the aluminum alloy includes Q phase precipitates; and wherein the solvus temperature of the Q phase precipitates and any Mg.sub.2Si precipitates is not greater than 950° F.

2. The aluminum alloy of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 0.7 wt. % Si.

3. The aluminum alloy of claim 2, wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 1.3 wt. % Si.

4. The aluminum alloy of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 0.30 wt. % Mg, and wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is from 1.05:1 to 4.67:1.

5. The aluminum alloy of claim 4, wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is at least 1.10:1.

6. The aluminum alloy of claim 5, wherein the ratio of wt. % Si to wt. % Mg is not greater than 2.75:1, or not greater than 2.5:1.

7. The aluminum alloy of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 0.30 wt. % Cu.

8. The aluminum alloy of claim 7, wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 1.75 wt. % Cu.

9. The aluminum alloy of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 0.20 wt. % Zn.

10. The aluminum alloy of claim 9, wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 3.0 wt. % Zn.

11. The aluminum alloy of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy includes from 0.10 to 0.30 wt. % Mn.

12. The aluminum alloy claim 11, wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 0.05 wt. % Zr and not greater than 0.05 wt. % V.

13. The aluminum alloy of claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy includes the Q phase precipitates and Mg.sub.2Si precipitates, and a volumetric ratio of Mg.sub.2Si precipitates to Q phase precipitates is not greater than 1.25:1 ((Mg.sub.2Si(vol.)):(Q phase (vol.)).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating various methods for producing press-quenched aluminum alloy products

(2) FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating various method for producing solution heat treated aluminum alloy products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example 1

(3) Fourteen alloys were modeled using PANDAT thermodynamic modeling software. The compositions of the fourteen alloys are given in Table 1, below. Alloy 1-7 are invention alloys. The other alloys are conventional aluminum alloys.

(4) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Composition of Modeled Alloys (in wt. %) Si + Alloy Si Mg Cu Zn Fe Mn Cr Si:Mg Mg 1 0.9 0.48 0.6 0.72 0.2 0.15 0.2 1.88:1 1.38 2 0.9 0.48 0.6 3.0 0.2 0.15 0.2 1.88:1 1.38 3 0.7 0.61 0.6 2.0 0.15 0.1 0 1.15:1 1.31 4 1.3 0.61 0.6 2.0 0.15 0.1 0 2.13:1 1.91 5 0.9 0.48 0.9 1.0 0.2 0.15 0.2 1.88:1 1.38 6 0.9 0.48 0.3 2.0 0.2 0.15 0.2 1.88:1 1.38 7 0.8 0.7 0.9 2.0 0.2 0.15 0.2 1.14:1 1.5 8 1.1 0.55 1.2 0.5 0.2 0.14 0.2  2.0:1 1.65 9 1.1 0.55 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.14 0.2  2.0:1 1.65 10 1.1 0.55 1.8 0.2 0.2 0.14 0.2  2.0:1 1.65 6061 0.69 0.9 0.9 0 0.2 0.075 0.2 0.77:1 1.59 6361 0.75 1.2 1.2 0 0.15 0.14 0.24 0.63:1 1.95 6056 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.25 0.7 0.25 1.11:1 1.9 6156 1.0 0.95 0.95 0.4 0.15 0.55 0.25 1.05:1 1.95 6013 0.75 0.95 0.95 0 0.15 0.35 0.08 0.79:1 1.7 6055 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.72 0.1 0.08 0.24   1:1 1.8 6099 1.0 0.95 0.95 0.8 0.15 0.25 0.2 1.05:1 1.95
Table 2, below, includes the modeled thermodynamic properties of the alloys.

(5) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Thermodynamic Properties of Modeled Alloys Amount of Mg.sub.2Si Q-phase precipitates Liquidus Solidus Solvus solvus at 390° F. Precipitate Alloy (° F.) (° F.) (° F.) (° F.) (mol. %) Phases 1 1202 1084 877 811 1.63 Q + Si 2 1194 1055 870 818 1.68 Q + Si 3 1197 1078 933 815 1.86 Q + Si 4 1191 1014 918 839 2.44 Q + Si 5 1199 1070 — 884 1.64 Q + Si 6 1199 1078 871 734 1.61 Q + Si + Mg.sub.2Si 7 1197 1066 950 822 1.88 Q + Mg.sub.2Si 8 1197 1044 — 913 1.98 Q + Si 9 1197 1037 — 924 2.78 Q + Si + Al2Cu 10 1195 1025 — 935 3.18 Q + Al2Cu 6061 1204 1105 964 — 1.79 Mg.sub.2Si + Al.sub.2Cu 6361 1212 1080 1010 — 2.36 Mg.sub.2Si + Al.sub.2Cu 6056 1210 1050 1005 865 2.65 Q + Mg.sub.2Si 6156 1210 1046 1005 879 2.5 Q + Mg.sub.2Si 6013 1199 1071 996 829 2.75 Mg.sub.2Si + Al.sub.2Cu + Q 6055 1207 1053 1000 851 2.32 Q + Mg.sub.2Si 6099 1200 1064 1015 781 2.33 Q + Mg.sub.2Si
As shown, the inventive alloys realize Q phase precipitates and these precipitates have low solvus temperatures, indicating applicability to press-quenching. Further, many are free of Al.sub.2Cu and Mg.sub.2Si precipitates.

(6) While various embodiments of the new technology described herein have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology.