High performance AlSiMgCu casting alloy
View Patent ↗New aluminum casting alloys having 8.5-9.5 wt. % silicon, 0.8-2.0 wt. % copper (Cu), 0.20-0.53 wt. % magnesium (Mg), and 0.35 to 0.8 wt. % manganese are disclosed. The alloy may be solution heat treated, treated in accordance with T5 tempering and/or artificially aged to produce castings, e.g., for cylinder heads and engine blocks. In one embodiment, the castings are made by high pressure die casting.
1. An aluminum casting alloy consisting of:
8.5-9.5 wt. % silicon;
0.8-1.2 wt. % copper (Cu);
wherein 2.5≤(Cu+10Mg)≤5.8;
0.36-0.53 wt. % magnesium (Mg);
0.35 to 0.8 wt. % manganese;
up to 0.05 wt. % zinc;
up to 0.01 wt. % silver;
up to 0.05 wt. % nickel;
up to 0.01 wt. % hafnium;
0.10-0.35 wt. % iron;
0.03-0.15 wt. % titanium;
0.07-0.30 wt. % zirconium;
0.07-0.30 wt. % vanadium;
wherein 0.14≤Zr+V≤0.40
up to 0.03 wt. % of one or more of strontium, sodium and antimony;
other elements being ≤0.04 wt. % each and ≤0.12 wt. % in total;
the balance being aluminum.
2. The alloy of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of iron to manganese is ≤0.5.
3. The alloy of claim 2 , wherein the alloy includes from 0.4 to 0.45 wt. % Mg, and wherein 4.7≤(Cu+10Mg)≤5.8.
4. The alloy of claim 3 , wherein the alloy includes from 0.10 to 0.30 wt. % Fe.
5. The alloy of claim 4 , wherein the alloy includes from 0.45-0.70 wt. % Mn.
6. A method comprising:
(a) introducing the molten aluminum alloy of claim 1 into a mold;
(b) removing a defect-free shape cast article from the mold; and
(c) tempering the shape cast article to one of a T5, T6 or T7 temper.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mold is a high pressure die casting mold and the step of introducing is by high pressure die casting.
8. The alloy of claim 5 , wherein the alloy includes at least 0.08 wt. % of each of Zr and V.
9. The alloy of claim 5 , wherein the alloy includes at least 0.09 wt. % of each of Zr and V.
10. The alloy of claim 8 , wherein the alloy includes 0.16-0.35 wt. % of Zr+V.
11. The alloy of claim 9 , wherein the alloy includes 0.18-0.35 wt. % of Zr+V.
12. The alloy of claim 9 , wherein the alloy includes 0.20-0.30 wt. % of Zr+V.