TREA

Aluminum alloy suitable for pistons

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Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 5162065
  • Patent Number
    5,162,065
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, October 2, 1991
    32 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 10, 1992
    31 years ago
Information
Abstract
Disclosed is an aluminum alloy suitable for high temperature applications comprised of at least 9 wt. % Si, 3 to 7 wt. % Ni, 1.5 to 6 wt. % Cu, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Sr, Zn, B and Cr, the remainder aluminum and impurities.
Description
Claims
  • 1. In the manufacture of a combustion engine component wherein said component is made from an aluminum alloy, the improvement wherein said alloy is provided as an alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to less than 14 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 7.0 wt. % Ni, 1.5 to 6.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.3 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 2. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Si is in the range of 9.0 to 13.0 wt. %.
  • 3. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Ni is in the range of 3.1 to 6.0 wt. %.
  • 4. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Cu is in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 wt. %.
  • 5. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Mg is 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % max.
  • 6. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Mn is 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % max.
  • 7. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein V is 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % max.
  • 8. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Sc is 0.5 to 0.1 wt. % max.
  • 9. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Fe is 0.05 to 0.8 wt. % max.
  • 10. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Ti is 0.03 to 0.12 wt. % max.
  • 11. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Sr is 0.1 wt. % max.
  • 12. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein Zn is 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % max.
  • 13. The alloy in accordance with claim 1 wherein B is 0.1 wt. % max.
  • 14. In the manufacture of a combustion engine component wherein said component is made from an aluminum alloy, the improvement wherein said alloy is provided as an alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to 13.0 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 6.0 wt. % Ni, 3.0 to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.3 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 15. A piston made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to less than 14 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 7.0 wt. % Ni, 1.5 to 6.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 16. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Si is in the range of 9.0 to 13.0 wt. %.
  • 17. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Ni is in the range of 3.25 to 6.0 wt. %.
  • 18. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Cu is in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 wt. %.
  • 19. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Mg is in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 wt. %.
  • 20. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Mn is in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 wt. %.
  • 21. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein V is in the range of 0.01 to 0.1 wt. %.
  • 22. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Sc is in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 wt. %.
  • 23. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Fe is in the range of 0.05 to 0.8 wt. %.
  • 24. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Ti is in the range of 0.03 to 0.12 wt. %.
  • 25. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein Zn is in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 wt. %.
  • 26. The piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein B is 0.1 wt. % max.
  • 27. A piston made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to 13.0 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 6.0 wt. % Ni, 3.0 to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 28. In an internal combustion engine, a piston made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to less than 14 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 7.0 wt. % Ni, 1.5 to 6.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 29. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 28 wherein Si is in the range of 9.0 to 13.0 wt. %.
  • 30. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 28 wherein Ni is in the range of 3.1 to 6.0 wt. %.
  • 31. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 28 wherein Cu is in the range of 3.0 to 5.0 wt. %.
  • 32. In an internal combustion engine, a piston made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to 13.0 wt. % Si, 3.25 to 6.0 wt. % Ni, 3.0 to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 33. A piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein the piston is forged.
  • 34. A piston in accordance with claim 15 wherein the piston is cast.
  • 35. In the manufacture of an engine component having a reciprocating piston therein wherein said component is made from an aluminum alloy, the improvement wherein said alloy is provided as an alloy consisting essentially of 9.0 to less than 14 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 7.0 wt. % Ni, 1.5 to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 36. An aluminum alloy product suitable for high temperature applications consisting essentially of 9.0 to 11.0 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 6.0 wt. % Ni, 1.5 to 5.0 wt. % Cu, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Zn, B and Cr, said elements having the ranges: 0.8 wt. % Mg max., 1 wt. % Mn max., 0.3 wt. % V max., 0.3 wt. % Sc max., 0.25 wt. % Ti max., up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, 0.5 wt. % Zn max. and 0.8 wt. % Fe max., the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 37. An aluminum alloy product in accordance with claim 35 wherein the product is forged.
  • 38. An aluminum alloy product in accordance with claim 35 wherein the product is cast.
  • 39. An aluminum alloy product in accordance with claim 36 wherein the product is forged.
  • 40. An aluminum alloy product in accordance with claim 36 wherein the product is cast.
  • 41. A piston made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 10 to 11 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 4.9 wt. % Ni, 2 to 5 wt. % Cu, 0.1 to 1.2 wt. % Mg, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % V, 0.05 to 0.1 wt. % Sc, 0.05 to 0.8 wt. % Fe, 0.03 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Zn, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 42. In an internal combustion engine, a piston made from an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of 10 to 11 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 4.9 wt. % Ni, 2 to 5 wt. % Cu, 0.1 to 1.2 wt. % Mg, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % V, 0.05 to 0.1 wt. % Sc, 0.05 to 0.8 wt. % Fe, 0.03 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Zn, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 43. In the manufacture of an engine component having a reciprocating piston therein wherein said component is made from an aluminum alloy, the improvement wherein said alloy is provided as an alloy consisting essentially of 1 0 to 11 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 4.9 wt. % Ni, 2 to 5 wt. % Cu, 0.1 to 1.2 wt. % Mg, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % V, 0.05 to 0.1 wt. % Sc, 0.05 to 0.8 wt. % Fe, 0.03 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Zn, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, the remainder aluminum and impurities.
  • 44. An aluminum alloy product suitable for high temperature applications consisting essentially of 10 to 11 wt. % Si, 3.1 to 4.9 wt. % Ni, 2 to 5 wt. % Cu, 0.1 to 1.2 wt. % Mg, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % V, 0.05 to 0.1 wt. % Sc, 0.05 to 0.8 wt. % Fe, 0.03 to 0.12 wt. % Ti, 0.05 to 0.2 wt. % Zn, 0.005 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, up to 0.2 wt. % B, up to 0.2 wt. % Cr, the remainder aluminum and impurities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 510,968, filed Apr. 19, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,225 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 309,112, filed Feb. 13, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,243, issued Dec. 4, 1990. This invention relates to aluminum alloys and more particularly it relates to aluminum alloys suitable for high temperature applications such as pistons and other internal combustion engine applications. In the use of aluminum for pistons, several alloys have been proposed. For example, J. E. Hanafee in a paper entitled "Effect of Nickel on Hot Hardness of Aluminum-Silicon Alloys", Modern Castings, October 1963, proposes hypoeutectic and hypereutectic alloys. Under hypereutectic Hanafee suggests an alloy consisting of, in wt. %, 4.70 Ni, 10.2 Si, 1.12 Cu, 1.16 Mg, 0.53 Fe, 0.18 Ti, the balance aluminum. Hanafee suggests that the addition of Ni to a more complex alloy might be expected to improve room temperature and elevated temperature hardness by increasing the volume of stable hard particles. However, he noted that upon heating to 600.degree. F., the alloys underwent an initial rapid decrease in hardness and then, depending on the Ni content, maintained that hardness for up to 5 hours at temperature. In addition, Kersker et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,736) disclose an aluminum alloy consisting essentially of about the following percentages of materials: Si=14 to 18, Fe=0.4 to 2, Cu=4 to 6, Mg=up to 1, Ni=4.5 to 10, P=0.001 to 0.1 (recovered), remainder grain refiner, Al and incidental impurities. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new aluminum alloy. It is a further object of the invention to provide a new aluminum alloy suitable for use in a piston in an internal combustion engine. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a new aluminum alloy suitable for high temperature applications such as in internal combustion engines. And yet another object of the invention is to provide a new aluminum alloy suitable for a forged piston. Still yet it is another object of the invention to provide a new aluminum alloy suitable for a cast piston. This as well as other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification and an inspection of the claims appended thereto. Thus, an aluminum alloy suitable for high temperature applications is comprised of at least 9 wt. % Si, 3 to 7 wt. % Ni, 1 to 6 wt. % Cu, at least one of the elements selected from Mg, Mn, V, Sc, Fe, Ti, Sr, Zn, B and Cr, the remainder aluminum and impurities.

US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
3333955 Walker et al. Aug 1967
3716355 Wikle et al. Feb 1973
4297976 Bruni et al. Nov 1981
4434014 Smith Feb 1984
4648918 Asano et al. Mar 1987
4681736 Kersker et al. Jul 1987
4975243 Scott et al. Dec 1990
5055255 Scott et al. Oct 1991
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
60-57497 Dec 1985 JPX
61-51616 Nov 1986 JPX
62-142741 Jun 1987 JPX
62-185857 Aug 1987 JPX
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
"Effect of Nickel on Hot Hardness of Aluminum-Silicon Alloys", by J. E. Hanafee, Modern Castings, Oct. 1963, pp. 514-520.
"Casting Alloy of the Al-Si-Cu-Ni System" by V. T. Saikin, Metal Science and Heat Treatment, vol. 19, No. 9-10 Sep./Oct. 1977.
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 510968 Apr 1990
Parent 309112 Feb 1989