Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
An aluminium-silicon alloy consisting essentially of the following composition by weight: ______________________________________
Si 12-15%
Cu 1.5-5.5%
Ni 1.0-3.0%
Mg 0.1-1.0%
Fe 0.1-1.0%
Mn 0.1-0.8%
Zr 0.01-0.1%
Silicon modifier
0.001-0.1%
Ti 0.01-0.1%
Al remainder, apart from impurities,
______________________________________ said alloy having an essentially eutectic microstructure containing not more than 10% of primary alpha-aluminium dendrites and being substantially free from intermetallic particles exceeding 10 microns in diameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
An aluminium-silicon alloy consisting essentially of the following composition by weight: ______________________________________
Si 12-15%
Cu 1.5-5.5%
Ni 1.0-3.0%
Mg 0.1-1.0%
Fe 0.1-1.0%
Mn 0.1-0.8%
Zr 0.01-0.1%
Silicon modifier
0.001-0.1%
Ti 0.01-0.1%
Al remainder, apart from impurities,
______________________________________ said alloy having an essentially eutectic microstructure containing not more than 10% of primary alpha-aluminium dendrites and being substantially free from intermetallic particles exceeding 10 microns in diameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An aluminium-silicon alloy consisting essentially of the following composition by weight: ______________________________________
Si 12-15%
Cu 1.5-4%
Ni 1.0-3.0%
Mg 0.4-1.0%
Fe 0.1-0.5%
Mn 0.1-0.8%
Zr 0.01-0.1%
Silicon modifier
0.01-0.05%
Ti 0.01-0.1%
Al remainder, apart from impurities,
______________________________________ said alloy having an essentially eutectic microstructure containing not more than 10% of primary alpha-aluminium dendrites and being substantially free from intermetallic particles exceeding 10 microns in diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An aluminium-silicon alloy consisting essentially of the following composition by weight: ______________________________________
Si 12-15%
Cu 1.5-4%
Ni 1.0-3.0%
Mg 0.4-1.0%
Fe 0.1-0.5%
Mn 0.1-0.8%
Zr 0.01-0.1%
Silicon modifier
0.01-0.05%
Ti 0.01-0.1%
Al remainder, apart from impurities,
______________________________________ said alloy having an essentially eutectic microstructure containing not more than 10% of primary alpha-aluminium dendrites and being substantially free from intermetallic particles exceeding 10 microns in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An alloy of the composition defined in claim 1, prepared by establishing a melt of the said composition and allowing it to solidify under conditions such that the growth rate R of the solid phase during solidification is from 150 to 1000 microns per second and the temperature gradient G at the solid/liquid interface, expressed in °C./cm, is such that the ratio G/R is from 500 to 8000 C.°s/cm 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
An alloy of the composition defined in claim 2, prepared by establishing a melt of the said composition and allowing it to solidify under conditions such that the growth rate R of the solid phase during solidification is from 150 to 1000 microns per second and the temperature gradient G at the solid/liquid interface, expressed in °C./cm, is such that the ratio G/R is from 500 to 8000 C.s/cm 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for preparing an aluminium-silicon alloy according to claim 1 said process comprising establishing a melt of the said composition and allowing it to solidify under conditions such that the growth rate R of the solid phase during solidification is from 150 to 1000 microns per second and the temperature gradient G at the solid/liquid interface, expressed in °C./cm, is such that the ratio G/R is from 500 to 8000 C°s/cm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 5 comprising the further step of subjecting said alloy to an artificial ageing treatment at 160°-220° C. for 2-16 hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 5 comprising the further step of subjecting said alloy to a heat treatment schedule including solution treatment at 480°-530° C. for 5 to 20 hours, quenching into hot water, and artificial ageing at 140° to 250° C. for 2 to 30 hours.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for preparing an aluminium-silicon alloy according to claim 5 said process comprising establishing a melt of the said composition and allowing it to solidify under conditions such that the growth rate R of the solid phase during solidification is from 150 to 1000 microns per second and the temperature gradient G at the solid/liquid interface, expressed in °C./cm, is such that the ratio G/R is from 500 to 8000 C.°s/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 8 comprising the further step of subjecting said alloy to an artificial ageing treatment at 160°-220° C. for 2-16 hours.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 8 comprising the further step of subjecting said alloy to a heat treatment schedule including solution treatment at 480°-530° C. for 5 to 20 hours, quenching into hot water, and artificial ageing at 140° to 250° C. for 2 to 30 hours.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An aluminum-silicon alloy according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said modifier comprises Sr.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
An aluminium-silicon alloy according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said modifier comprises sodium.