Aluminum casting alloys containing vanadium

Abstract

Improved aluminum casting alloys having vanadium are disclosed, The new alloys generally include from 4,0 to 10.0 wt. % Si, from 0.01 to 0.15 wt. % V, and up to 0.10 wt. % Fe, among other elements. The improved aluminum casting alloys may realize, for example, improved strength and/or elongation properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum casting alloy comprising:
 from 4.0 to 10.0 wt. % silicon (Si);   from 0.01 to 0.15 wt. % vanadium (V),   up to 0.08 wt. % iron (Fe);   optionally one or more of the following secondary elements:
 from 0.05 to 1.5 wt. % magnesium (Mg); 
 from 0.40 to 5.0 wt. % copper (Cu); 
 from 0.25 to 5.0 wt. % zinc (Zn); and 
 from 0.50 to 3.0 wt. % nickel (Ni); 
   optionally 0.01-1.0 wt. % each of one or more of the following tertiary elements: manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), strontium (Sr), sodium (Na), and antimony (Sb);   optionally from 0.001 to 0.03 wt. % boron (13);   optionally from 0.001 to 0.03 wt. % carbon (C);   not more than 0.25 wt. % each of any other element, with the total combined amount of these other elements not exceeding 0.50 wt. %;   the balance being aluminum and impurities.   
     
     
         2 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.03 to 0.12 wt. % V. 
     
     
         3 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.05 to 0.10 wt. % V. 
     
     
         4 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising not greater than 0.05 wt. % iron. 
     
     
         5 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising at least 0.01 wt. % iron. 
     
     
         6 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 6.0 to 9.0 wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         7 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 6.5 to 8.5 wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         8 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.01 to 0.8 wt. % manganese. 
     
     
         9 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0,01 to 0.5 wt. % chromium. 
     
     
         10 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.01 to 0.25 wt. % titanium. 
     
     
         11 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % strontium. 
     
     
         12 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % sodium. 
     
     
         13 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % antimony. 
     
     
         14 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises not more than 0.10 wt. % each of the other elements, with the total combined amount of these other elements not exceeding 0.35 wt. %. 
     
     
         15 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises not more than 0.05 wt. % each of the other elements, with the total combined amount of these other elements not exceeding 0.15 wt. %. 
     
     
         16 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , Wherein the alloy comprises not more than 0.03 wt. % each of the other elements, with the total combined amount of these other elements not exceeding 0.10 wt. %. 
     
     
         17 . The aluminum casting alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy realizes a Secondary Dendrite Arm Spacing (SDAS) of from 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers.