Method for grain refinement of high strength aluminum casting alloys
OwnerGeoffrey K. Sigworthinventor
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Abstract
An improved aluminum base alloy having improved hot crack resistance when solidified into cast products, the alloy comprised of 4 to 5.5 wt. % Cu, max. 0.5 wt. % Mn, max. 0.55 wt. % Mg, max. 0.2 wt. % Si, up to 0.5 wt. % Fe, optionally 1.13 to 1.7 wt. % Ni, 0.005 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities.
Claims6
An improved aluminum base alloy casting having improved hot cracking resistance in the as-cast condition, the alloy comprised of 4 to less than 5 wt. % Cu, 0.15 to 0.55 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0.015 to 0.2 wt. % Si, 0.015 to 0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, cast products formed from the alloy having a grain size of less than 125 microns.
A near net shape cast product formed from an aluminum base alloy, the cast product having increased resistance to hot cracking in the as-cast condition, the alloy comprised of 4 to less than 5 wt. % Cu, 0.15 to 0.55 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0.015 to 0.2 wt. % Si, 0.015 to 0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the cast product having a grain size of less than 125 μm.
A method of casting an aluminum base alloy to provide a cast product having improved hot crack resistance in the as-cast condition and a grain size of less than 125 microns, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an aluminum base alloy comprised of 4 to less than 5 wt. % Cu, 0.15 to 0.55 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0.015 to 0.2 wt. % Si, 0.015 to 0.5 wt. % Fe, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities;
- (b) maintaining Ti in the range of 0.005 to 0.12 wt. % to improve the resistance of said alloy to hot cracking;
- (c) adding a nucleating agent selected from the group consisting of carbides, aluminides and borides;
- and
- (d) solidifying said alloy to provide a cast product substantially free of hot cracks.
An improved vehicular or aerospace casting having increased resistance to hot cracking, the member formed from an aluminum alloy comprised of 4 to less than 5 wt. % Cu, 0.15 to 0.55 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0. 015 to 0.2 wt. % Si, 0.015 to 0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the casting having a grain size of less than 125 microns.
A near net shape cast vehicular casting formed from an aluminum base alloy, the vehicular casting having increased resistance to hot cracking, the alloy comprised of 4 to 5.5 wt. % Cu, 0.15 to 0.55 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0.015 to 0.2 wt. % Si, 0.015 to 0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the casting having a grain size of less than 125 μm.
A near net shape cast aircraft casting formed from an aluminum base alloy, the aircraft casting having increased resistance to hot cracking, the alloy comprised of 4 to 5.5 wt. % Cu, 0.15 to 0.55 wt. % Mg, 0.2 to 0.5 wt. % Mn, 0.015 to 0.2 wt. % Si, 0.015 to 0.5 wt. % Fe, 0.01 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, the balance comprised of aluminum, incidental elements and impurities, the casting having a grain size of less than 125 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.