Which aluminium alloy is used in aerospace?
Aluminium alloy 2024 is the most widely used in aerospace development. The alloy has a high yield strength and is a high-grade alloy with excellent fatigue resistance. It is commonly used in sheet form for the wings and fuselage. Grade 7075 is the most common of the 7000 series grades. It is an extremely high strength alloy; the strongest of all commercial grades of aluminium. In fact, grade 7075 aluminium is stronger than many types of mild steel.One such material that has garnered significant attention is 6061-T651 aluminum. Renowned for its high strength, strong corrosion resistance, and excellent weldability, this aerospace-grade aluminum alloy has become a cornerstone in various aerospace applications.For projects requiring maximum strength and where the material’s reduced workability is not an issue, 7075 aluminum is the better choice. However, for applications that demand good corrosion resistance, weldability, and formability, 6061 aluminum tends to be more suitable.
What is aluminum lithium alloy used for?
Aluminum-lithium alloys have been developed primarily to reduce the weight of aircraft and aerospace structures; more recently, they have been investigated for use in cryogenic applications (for example, liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel tanks for aerospace vehicles). These alloys include aluminum grades such as 2024, 6061, 7050, and 7075. These aerospace aluminum alloys are known for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, high corrosion resistance, and overall durability, making them a better choice for high-performance applications than common aluminum alloys.Generally speaking, steel is stronger than aluminum. That said, once the lighter weight of aluminum is factored into the equation, aluminum comes out on top with a superior strength-to-weight ratio. Identifying which metal has the better strength for your application will depend on your design’s flexibility.Aerospace-grade aluminum is strong and lightweight. Plain aluminum is known for being relatively weak, with a tensile strength of around 13,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). Aerospace-grade aluminum, on the other hand, has a tensile strength of around 45,000 to 90,000 PSI — sometimes even higher.Aluminum has been a prevalent material for NASA since the beginning of space exploration. Its light weight and durability in extreme conditions make it invaluable for designing spacecraft and equipment. Over the years, NASA engineers have continued to use aluminum in various applications to advance space technology.T6 Aluminum 7075-T6 is not only the strongest aluminum alloy, it also has the greatest shear strength of all the alloys listed here. For this reason, 7075 aluminum is often referred to as aircraft grade or aerospace aluminum.What features of aluminum lithium alloys make them particularly attractive for aerospace applications?The conventional aluminum alloys are being replaced gradually by aluminum‑lithium (Al-Li) alloys in the aerospace industry because Al-Li alloys have low density, high specific stiffness, high specific strength, good corrosion resistance, excellent low-temperature performance and superplastic forming performance. A high-strength material known as aircraft grade aluminum 6061 is generally used to make parts for airplanes. It is generally used to make airplanes because it is simple to weld, does not rust, and is powerful for its weight.Aluminum 5052 It is often used to make aircraft components like fuel tanks because its properties make it so moldable and versatile, yet still quite strong.Aluminium alloy 2024 is the most widely used in aerospace development. The alloy has a high yield strength and is a high-grade alloy with excellent fatigue resistance.This makes it ideal for use in boat hulls, marine hardware, and other structures that face harsh conditions.