Heat treatable aluminum alloys having magnesium and zinc and methods for producing the same
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:
3.75-6.0 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;
up to 1.0 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 not greater than 5.5 wt. % Mg.
3. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 5.0 wt. % Mg.
4. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 4.5 wt. % Mg.
5. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 2.75 wt. Zn.
6. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 3.0 wt. % Zn.
7. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 3.25 wt. % Zn.
8. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 4.5 wt. % Zn.
9. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes not greater than 4.0 wt. % Zn.
10. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 0.75.
11. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 0.90.
12. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 1.00.
13. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is at least 1.02.
14. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is not greater than 2.00.
15. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is not greater than 1.75.
16. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein (wt. % Mg)/(wt. % Zn) is not greater than 1.50.
17. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes 0.05-0.20 wt. Zr.
18. The aluminum alloy of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy includes at least 0.10 wt. % Cu and not greater than 0.5 wt. % Cu.
19. 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.
20. The method of claim 19 , 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.