Dispersion strengthened L12 aluminum alloys

A heat treatable aluminum alloy comprising:

• at least one metal selected from about 1 to about 8 weight percent magnesium and about 1 to about 10 weight percent nickel;
• an aluminum solid solution matrix containing a plurality of dispersed Al3X second phases having L12 structures where X comprises at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, niobium;
• and
• at least one ceramic selected from the group comprising:
• about 5 to about 40 volume percent aluminum oxide, about 5 to about 40 volume percent silicon carbide, about 5 to about 40 volume percent aluminum nitride, about 5 to about 40 volume percent titanium diboride, about 5 to about 40 volume percent titanium boride, and about 5 to about 40 volume percent titanium carbide;
• 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:
• at least one metal selected from the group comprising:
• about 1 to about 8 weight percent of magnesium and about 1 to about 10 weight percent of nickel;
• at least one first element selected from the group comprising:
• about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent scandium, about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent erbium, about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent thulium, about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent ytterbium, and about 0.1 to about 12 weight percent lutetium;
• at least one second element selected from the group comprising:
• about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent gadolinium, about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent yttrium, about 0.05 to about 1 weight percent zirconium, about 0.05 to about 2 weight percent titanium, about 0.05 to about 2 weight percent hafnium, and about 0.05 to about 1 weight percent niobium;
• and
• the balance substantially aluminum;
• (b) adding at least one ceramic selected from the group comprising:
• about 5 to about 40 volume percent aluminum oxide, about 5 to about 40 volume percent silicon carbide, about 5 to about 40 volume percent aluminum nitride, about 5 to about 40 volume percent titanium diboride, about 5 to about 40 volume percent titanium boride, and about 5 to about 40 volume percent titanium carbide;
• and
• (c) consolidating the powder and ceramic to form the alloy.