5XXX-LITHIUM ALUMINUM ALLOYS, AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
New 5xxx-lithium aluminum alloys and related products are disclosed. The new 5xxx-lithium aluminum alloy may contain from 3.75 to 5.0 wt. % Mg, from 1.6 to 2.3 wt. % Li, and from 0.50 to 2.5 wt. % Zn, among others.
1 . An aluminum alloy consisting of:
from 3.75 to 5.0 wt. % magnesium (Mg);
from 1.6 to 2.3 wt. % lithium (Li);
from 0.50 to 2.5 wt. % zinc (Zn);
0.05 to 0.50 wt. % of a grain structure control element selected from the group consisting of zirconium (Zr), scandium (Sc), chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), hafnium (Hf), other rare earth elements, and combinations thereof;
up to 1.00 wt. % copper (Cu);
up to 1.00 wt. % silver (Ag);
wherein Cu+Ag≧1.15 wt. %;
wherein, when the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.04 wt. % Cu and not greater than 0.04 wt. % Ag, the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.75 wt. % zinc;
up to 0.5 wt. % silicon (Si);
up to 1.0 wt. % manganese (Mn);
up to 0.15 wt. % titanium (Ti); and
the balance being aluminum, other elements and impurities, wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.10 wt. % of any one of the other elements, and wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.35 wt. % total of the other elements.
2 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 40 wt. % Mg.
3 .- 5 . (canceled)
6 . The aluminum alloy of claim 2 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 4.9 wt. % Mg.
7 .- 9 . (canceled)
10 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 1.65 wt. % Li.
11 .- 12 . (canceled)
13 . The aluminum alloy claim 10 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 2.20 wt. % Li.
14 . (canceled)
15 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.60 wt. % Zn.
16 .- 19 . (canceled)
20 . The aluminum alloy of claim 15 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 2.25 wt. % Zn.
21 . (canceled)
22 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.05 wt % Cu.
23 .- 25 . (canceled)
26 . The aluminum alloy of claim 22 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.90 wt. % Cu.
27 .- 29 . (canceled)
30 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.05 wt. % Ag.
31 .- 33 . (canceled)
34 . The aluminum alloy of claim 30 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.90 wt. % Ag.
35 .- 37 . (canceled)
38 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 1.10 wt. % Cu+Ag.
39 .- 40 . (canceled)
41 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.05 wt. % of at least one of Cu and Ag, and wherein the new aluminum alloy contains at least 0.15 wt. % Cu+Ag.
42 .- 46 . (canceled)
47 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.35 wt. % Si.
48 . (canceled)
49 . The aluminum alloy of claim 47 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.05 wt. % Si.
50 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.75 wt. % Mn.
51 .- 52 . (canceled)
53 . The aluminum alloy of claim 50 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains at least 0.20 wt. % Mn.
54 .- 55 . (canceled)
56 . The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the grain structure control element comprises zirconium, and wherein the aluminum alloy contains from 0.05 wt. % to 0.20 wt. % Zr.
57 .- 59 . (canceled)
60 . The aluminum alloy of claim 56 , wherein the aluminum alloy contains from 0.01 to 0.10 wt. % Ti.
61 .- 62 . (canceled)
63 . The aluminum alloy of claim 60 , wherein the impurities comprise iron (Fe), and wherein the aluminum alloy contains not greater than 0.25 wt. % Fe.
64 .- 71 . (canceled)