US2020032373A1PendingUtilityA1

Aluminum-alloy composite suitable for anodization

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Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLCPriority: Jul 25, 2018Filed: Jul 25, 2018Published: Jan 30, 2020
Est. expiryJul 25, 2038(~11.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Zhicong YaoMassood Nikkhah
C25D 11/16C25D 11/04C22C 1/1036C22C 32/0047C22C 32/0036Y10T428/31678
39
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Claims

Abstract

An article comprises a bulk layer of an aluminum-alloy composite and a surface layer. The bulk layer comprises an aggregate dispersed in an aluminum-alloy matrix, the aggregate being solid and unreactive in a melt of the aluminum-alloy matrix, and having an average particle size of 100 microns or less. The surface layer comprises an anodized form of the bulk layer.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An article comprising:
 a bulk layer of an aluminum-alloy composite, the aluminum-alloy composite including an aggregate dispersed in an aluminum-alloy matrix, the aggregate being solid and unreactive in a melt of the aluminum-alloy matrix, and having an average particle size of 100 microns or less; and   a surface layer comprising an anodized form of the bulk layer.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aluminum-alloy matrix includes a 5xxx-series aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aluminum-alloy matrix includes a 6xxx-series aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aggregate includes one or more of a carbide, nitride, or oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aggregate includes alumina powder. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aggregate has an average particle size of 20 microns or less. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aggregate has an average particle size of 5 microns or less. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aggregate comprises 1 to 10 percent by mass of the aluminum-alloy composite. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the surface layer is 1 micron or greater in thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article is a body of a portable computing device. 
     
     
         11 . An article formed from an aluminum-alloy composite, comprising:
 a bulk layer of the aluminum-alloy composite, the aluminum-alloy composite including an alumina-powder aggregate dispersed in an aluminum-alloy matrix, the alumina-powder aggregate having an average particle size of 20 microns or less; and   a surface layer comprising an anodized form of the bulk layer.   
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the aluminum-alloy matrix includes a 5xxx-series aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the aluminum-alloy matrix includes a 6xxx-series aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the aggregate has an average particle size of 10 microns or less. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the aggregate has an average particle size of 1 micron or less. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the aggregate comprises 1 to 20 percent by mass of the aluminum-alloy composite. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacture of an aluminum-alloy composite article, the method comprising:
 melting an aluminum alloy;   dispersing an aggregate in the melted aluminum alloy to form a dispersion, the aggregate being solid and unreactive in a melt of the aluminum-alloy matrix, and having an average particle size of 100 microns or less;   cooling the dispersion to below a solidification point of the dispersion to form an aluminum-alloy composite;   extruding the aluminum-alloy composite to form an aluminum-alloy composite extrusion; and   anodizing the aluminum-alloy composite extrusion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising rolling the aluminum-alloy composite extrusion prior to anodizing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the aggregate includes alumina powder. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the aggregate has an average particle size of 20 microns or less.

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