5xxx-lithium aluminum alloys, and methods for producing the same

Abstract

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)