Aluminum alloy for aerospace

Aluminum alloy is mainly used as a structural material in aircraft, such as: skin, frame, propeller, fuel tank, siding and landing gear struts. In this way, it is also called aluminum alloy for aerospace. The application and development of aluminum alloys in aerospace can be divided into several stages: the main goal in the 50s was to reduce weight and improve the specific stiffness and specific strength of the alloy; In the 60~70s, the main goal was to improve the durability and damage tolerance of alloys, and developed 7XXX series alloys T73 and T76 heat treatment systems, 7050 alloys and high-purity alloys; In the 80s, further structural weight reduction was required due to rising fuel prices; Since the 90s, the development goal of aluminum alloys is to further reduce weight and further improve the durability and damage tolerance of alloys. For example, the development of a new aluminum alloy with high strength, high toughness and high corrosion resistance, a large number of thick plates processed into complex integral structural components instead of the components previously assembled with many parts, can not only reduce the weight of the structure, but also ensure the stability of performance. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop a thick plate material with low internal stress.

In the modern aircraft structural parts, the use of 1500~2000 kinds of aluminum castings, according to the different use conditions and parts of the aircraft, mainly used three basic aluminum alloys: that is, high-strength aluminum alloy, heat-resistant aluminum alloy, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy. High-strength aluminum alloy is mainly used for aircraft fuselage parts, engine compartments, seats, control systems, etc., and in most cases can replace aluminum die forgings. High-strength aluminum alloys are mainly aluminum-copper alloys in Russia, and aluminum-copper-manganese are mainly used in the United States. Aluminum-copper alloy parts are mainly produced by sand casting. Heat-resistant aluminum alloy parts are mainly used in nacelles close to electric motors, air exchange systems, etc. The temperature here reaches 200~400 °C. Compared with ordinary structural alloys and high-strength alloys, this alloy has the advantages of high degree of alloying and belongs to aluminum-copper-nickel alloys. Corrosion resistant aluminum alloy has high enough performance indicators, its strength, plasticity, impact toughness, fatigue performance and weldability are very good, mainly with corrosion resistance, so that it can be used in seaplanes. It belongs to aluminum-magnesium alloys and aluminum-magnesium-zinc alloys.