Aluminum Alloys with High Strength and Cosmetic Appeal

Abstract

The disclosure provides an aluminum alloy including having varying ranges of alloying elements. In various aspects, the alloy has a wt % ratio of Zn to Mg ranging from 4:1 to 7:1. The disclosure further includes methods for producing an aluminum alloy and articles comprising the aluminum alloy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum alloy comprising:
 zinc, in an amount of less than 4.50 wt %;   one or more of
 Ag, in an amount that does not exceed 0.1 wt % Ag; 
 Mo, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; 
 Cr, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; 
 Ti, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; and 
 Zr, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; 
   0.5 to 2.0 wt % Mg;   0 to 0.50 wt % Cu;   0 to 0.10 wt % Zr, and   the balance being aluminum and incidental impurities.   
     
     
         2 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises magnesium, and the magnesium and the zinc form MgZn 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising magnesium, wherein the magnesium and zinc are in the form MgZn 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein copper is in an amount less than 0.03 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein chromium is in an amount that does not exceed 0.05 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the b* of the alloy is not greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         7 . An enclosure for an electronic device comprising:
 the alloy of  claim 1 , and   an anodized layer disposed on a surface of the alloy.   
     
     
         8 . An electronic device comprising the enclosure of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . An aluminum alloy comprising:
 zinc, in an amount of greater than 4.25 wt %;   one or more of
 Ag, in an amount that does not exceed 0.1 wt % Ag; 
 Mo, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; 
 Cr, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; 
 Ti, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; and 
 Zr, in an amount that does not exceed 0.050 wt %; 
   0.5 to 2.0 wt % Mg,   0 to 0.50 wt % Cu,   0 to 0.10 wt % Zr, and   the balance being aluminum and incidental impurities.   
     
     
         10 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 9 , wherein the alloy comprises magnesium, and the magnesium and the zinc form MgZn 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 9 , further comprising magnesium, wherein the magnesium and zinc are in the form MgZn 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 9 , wherein copper is in an amount less than 0.03 wt %. 
     
     
         13 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 9 , wherein chromium is in an amount that does not exceed 0.05 wt %. 
     
     
         14 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 9 , wherein the b* of the alloy is not greater than 1.0. 
     
     
         15 . An enclosure for an electronic device comprising:
 the alloy of  claim 9 , and   an anodized layer disposed on a surface of the alloy.   
     
     
         16 . An electronic device comprising the enclosure of  claim 15 .