Patent ID: 7854252
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
1. A method of casting an aluminum alloy, the method comprising the steps of: forming the aluminum alloy including aluminum, nickel, copper, at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of ytterbium, gadolinium, yttrium, erbium and cerium, and at least one minor alloy element selected from the group consisting of zinc, silver, magnesium, strontium, manganese, tin, calcium, cobalt and titanium, wherein the copper and the nickel form a eutectic microstructure, and the aluminum alloy includes a quantity of nickel and a quantity of copper, wherein a sum of the quantity of copper plus the quantity of nickel is less than approximately 4.5% and a ratio of the quantity of copper to the quantity of nickel is greater than approximately 1.0; controlling solidification of the aluminum alloy in a quenchant.