L12 strengthened amorphous aluminum alloys

An aluminum alloy having high strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and fracture toughness, comprising:

• nickel;
• cerium;
• at least one first element selected from the group comprising:
• about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent scandium, about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent erbium, about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent thulium, about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent ytterbium, and about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent lutetium;
• at least one second element selected from the group comprising:
• gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, niobium and iron;
• and
• the balance substantially aluminum.

A method of forming an aluminum alloy having high strength, ductility and toughness, the method comprising:

• (a) forming an alloy powder comprising:
• about 4 to 25 weight percent of nickel and about 2 to about 25 weight percent of cerium;
• at least one first element selected from the group comprising:
• about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent scandium, about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent erbium, about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent thulium, about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent ytterbium, and about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent lutetium;
• at least one second element selected from the group comprising:
• about 2 to about 30 weight percent gadolinium, about 2 to about 30 weight percent yttrium, about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent zirconium, about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent titanium, about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent hafnium, about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent niobium, and about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent iron;
• and
• the balance substantially aluminum;
• (b) treating the alloy powder with a rapid solidification process to form an amorphous phase aluminum alloy comprising about 4 to about 25 weight percent of nickel and about 2 to about 25 weight percent of cerium;
• and
• a coherent L12 phase comprising:
• about 4 to about 25 weight percent of nickel;
• about 2 to about 25 weight percent of cerium;
• at least one first element selected from the group comprising:
• about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent scandium, about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent erbium, about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent thulium, about 0.1 to 25 weight percent ytterbium, and about 0.1 to about 25 weight percent lutetium;
• and
• at least one second element selected from the group comprising:
• about 2 to about 30 weight percent gadolinium, about 2 to about 30 weight percent yttrium, about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent zirconium, about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent titanium, about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent hafnium, about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent niobium, and about 0.5 to about 15 weight percent iron.