Aluminum alloy having a nano-complex phase

Abstract

An aluminum alloy includes manganese of about 1.1% to about 7.0% by weight, magnesium of about 0.1% to about 6.0% by weight, scandium of about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight and the balance is essentially aluminum. Alloying elements of scandium, manganese and magnesium are added to form a columnar grain structure with a nano-complex phase in the aluminum alloy. Accordingly, the aluminum alloy has a high degree of physical and mechanical properties.

1 . An aluminum alloy having a nano-complex phase, comprising:
 manganese of about 1.1% to about 7.0% by weight;   magnesium of about 0.1% to about 6.0% by weight;   scandium of about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight; and   the balance being essentially iron aluminum   wherein additions of the scandium, the manganese and the magnesium produce a columnar grain structure with the nano-complex phase in the aluminum alloy.   
   
   
       2 . The aluminum alloy having the nano-complex phase as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising silicon of about 0.01% to about 0.50% by weight, iron of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, copper of about 0.01% to about 0.50% by weight, chromium of about 0.01% to about 0.50% by weight, nickel of about 0.01% to about 0.50% by weight and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The aluminum alloy having the nano-complex phase as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising titanium of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, vanadium of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, cobalt of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, zinc of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, zirconium of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, niobium of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, molybdenum of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, yttrium of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, tungsten of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight, lanthanum of about 0.01% to about 0.10% by weight and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The aluminum alloy having the nano-complex phase as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the columnar grain structure has a diameter ranging from 40 nm to 100 nm. 
   
   
       5 . The aluminum alloy having the nano-complex phase as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the columnar grain structure has a length ranging from 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm. 
   
   
       6 . The aluminum alloy having the nano-complex phase as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the nano-complex phase has a growth orientation substantially extending along its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       7 . The aluminum alloy having the nano-complex phase as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy is used to manufacture golf club heads, golf club shafts or other club head members.