Aluminum Die Casting Alloy

Abstract

Aluminum die casting alloy comprising 2 to 6% by weight nickel, 0.1 to 0.4% by weight zirconium, 0.1 to 0.4% by weight vanadium, optionally up to 5% by weight manganese, optionally up to 2% by weight iron, optionally up to 1% by weight titanium, optionally total max. 5% by weight transition elements including scandium, lanthanum, yttrium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, chromium and / or molybdenum, and aluminum as the remainder with further elements and impurities due to production total max. 1% by weight.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to aluminum alloys that can be processed by conventional high pressure die casting and are dispersion-strengthened, age-hardenable, and have useful mechanical properties at temperatures up to at least 300° C.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Aluminum alloys are one of the most important groups of light materials employed in the automotive industry, mainly because of their high specific strength. Most of the traditional aluminum casting alloys are based on the aluminum-silicon eutectic system because of its excellent casting characteristics. Unfortunately the solidus in this system does not exceed 550° C., and consequently the maximum working temperature of aluminum-silicon alloys is limited to about 200° C. In addition, the major alloying elements in traditional aluminum-based alloys (i.e., zinc, magnesium, and copper) have high diffusivity in the aluminum solid solution. Therefore, while these elements enhance the room temper...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides lightweight, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials that can be cast using the conventional high pressure die casting process and are thermally stable up to at least 300°C. The alloys can include up to 5% manganese and up to 2% iron, which form metal aluminides to strengthen the alloy. Iron and manganese also help prevent the alloy from sticking to the die components during the casting process.

Problems solved by technology

With the exception of high pressure die casting, such a fast cooling rate cannot be attained in most objects that are cast by conventional casting processes.

Accordingly, with the exception of casting very small objects in graphite or copper molds, the alloys represented in the preceding journal articles cannot be processed into shaped objects by conventional casting processes.

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