HIGH STRENGTH, HIGH FORMABILITY, AND LOW COST ALUMINUM LITHIUM ALLOYS

摘要

A high strength, high formability and low cost 2xxx aluminum-lithium alloy is disclosed. The aluminum-lithium alloy is capable of being formed into wrought products with a thickness of from about 0.01 to about 0.249. Aluminum-lithium alloys of the invention generally comprise from about 3.5 to 4.5 wt. % Cu, 0.8 to 1.6 wt. % Li, 0.6 to 1.5 wt, %Mg, from 0.03 to 0.6 wt.% of at least one grain structure control element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Cr, V, Hf, and other rare earth elements, and up to 1.0 wt. % Zn, up to 1.0 wt. % Mn, up to 0.12 wt. % Si, up to 0.15 wt. % Fe, up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, up to 0.05 wt. % of any other elemen t, with the total of these other elements not exceeding 0.15 wt. %, and the balance being aluminum. Ag should not be more than 0.5 wt.% and is preferably not intentionally added. Mg is at least equal or higher than Zn in weight percent in the invented alloy. Furthe r provided are methods for manufacturing wrought products including the aluminum-lithium alloys of the present invention.