Heat treatable aluminum alloys having magnesium and zinc and methods for producing the same
View Patent ↗New heat treatable aluminum alloys having magnesium and zinc are disclosed. The new aluminum alloys generally contain 3.0-6.0 wt. % Mg, 2.5-5.0 wt. % Zn, where (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is from 0.60 to 2.40.
1. An aluminum alloy consisting of:
3.5-6.0 wt. % Mg;
2.5-5.0 wt. % Zn;
wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is from 0.6 to 2.40;
0.10-0.50 wt. % Mn;
less than 0.05 wt. % Cu;
up to 0.5 wt. % Si;
up to 0.20 wt. % Zr;
up to 0.30 wt. % Sc;
up to 0.50 wt. % Cr;
up to 0.25 wt. % each of any of Hf, V, and rare earth elements;
up to 0.15 wt. % Ti;
up to 0.35 wt. Fe; and
the balance being aluminum and other elements, wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 0.15 wt. % each of these other elements, and wherein the total of these other elements does not exceed 0.35 wt. %.
2. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 2.75 wt. % Zn.
3. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 3.0 wt. % Zn.
4. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 3.25 wt. % Zn.
5. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 4.5 wt. % Zn.
6. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 4.0 wt. % Zn.
7. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 0.75.
8. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 0.90.
9. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 1.00.
10. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 1.02.
11. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is not greater than 2.00.
12. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is not greater than 1.75.
13. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is not greater than 1.50.
14. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes 0.05-0.20 wt. % Zr.
15. A method comprising:
(a) casting the aluminum alloy of claim 1 into an aluminum alloy body;
(b) processing the aluminum alloy body into one of a W temper and a T temper, wherein the processing step (b) comprises solution heat treating and then quenching the aluminum alloy body.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the processing comprises artificial aging the aluminum alloy body to one of a T6, T7 or a T8 temper, wherein the aluminum alloy body in the T6 or T7 temper realizes a higher strength than the aluminum alloy body in a T4 temper, or wherein the aluminum alloy body in the T8 temper realizes a higher strength than the aluminum alloy body in a T3 temper.