Cast aluminum alloy for transmission clutch

Abstract

An aluminum alloy suitable for casting transmission clutch housings, the aluminum alloy includes about 12 to about 16 weight percent silicon; about 0.0 to about 6.0 weight percent copper; about 0.2 to about 0.5 weight percent magnesium; about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent chromium; about 0 to about 1.0 weight percent each of iron, manganese, and zinc; less than 0.1 weight percent each of strontium and phosphorous; and about 0.0 to about 0.25 weight percent other trace elements. Also disclosed is a high pressure die cast article, such as a transmission clutch housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum alloy suitable for casting transmission clutch housings, the aluminum alloy comprising:
 about 12 to about 16 weight percent silicon;   about 0.0 to about 6.0 weight percent copper;   about 0.2 to about 0.5 weight percent magnesium;   about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent chromium;   about 0 to about 1.0 weight percent each of iron, manganese, and zinc;   less than 0.1 weight percent each of strontium and phosphorous; and   about 0.0 to about 0.25 weight percent other trace elements.   
     
     
         2 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising about 74 to about 88 weight percent aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 2  comprising:
 about 13 weight percent silicon; 
 about 0.0 to about 6.0 weight percent copper; 
 about 0.35 weight percent magnesium; 
 about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent chromium; 
 about 0.4 weight percent each of iron; 
 about 0.5 weight percent each of manganese; 
 about 0.2 weight percent of zinc; 
 less than 0.1 weight percent each of strontium and phosphorous; and 
 about 0.0 to about 0.25 weight percent other trace elements. 
 
     
     
         4 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 3 , further comprising a balance of about 85 weight percent aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , wherein the alloy can be used for as-cast and T5 aging conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , further comprising an as-cast yield strength of 185 MPa. 
     
     
         7 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , further comprising an as-cast ultimate tensile strength of 310 MPa. 
     
     
         8 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , further comprising a sludge factor is less than or equal to 1.6, up to 0.5 weight percent chromium, iron content less than or equal to 0.5 weight percent, and essentially no β-Fe Phase. 
     
     
         9 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , further comprising a T5 yield strength of 251 MPa. 
     
     
         10 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , further comprising a T5 ultimate tensile strength of 340 MPa. 
     
     
         11 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 4 , further comprising a T5 elongation of 1.9 percent. 
     
     
         12 . An aluminum alloy suitable for casting transmission clutch housings, the aluminum alloy comprising:
 about 13.0 to about 14.0 weight percent silicon;   about 0.0 to about 2.0 weight percent copper;   about 0.3 to about 0.4 weight percent magnesium;   about 0.2 to about 0.3 weight percent chromium;   about 0.3 to about 0.5 weight percent manganese;   less than 0.5 weight percent each of iron and zinc;   less than 0.05 weight percent each of strontium and phosphorous; and   about 0.0 to about 0.15 weight percent other trace elements.   
     
     
         13 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 12 , further comprising about 83 to about 86 weight percent aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 13 , wherein the alloy can be used for as-cast and T5 aging conditions. 
     
     
         15 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 13 , further comprising an as-cast yield strength of 185 MPa. 
     
     
         16 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 13 , further comprising an as-cast ultimate tensile strength of 310 MPa. 
     
     
         17 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 13 , further comprising a sludge factor is less than or equal to 1.6, up to 0.5 weight percent chromium, iron content less than or equal to 0.5 weight percent, and essentially no β-Fe Phase. 
     
     
         18 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 13 , further comprising T5 yield strength of 251 MPa. 
     
     
         19 . The aluminum alloy according to  claim 4  in the form of a HPDC transmission clutch housing. 
     
     
         20 . The aluminum alloy according to  claim 13  in the form of a HPDC transmission clutch housing.