Aluminum alloy is one of the metals commonly used in life. Now it has a pivotal position in the electronics industry, but did you know? Aluminum has a long history in the field of aerospace. Since the aluminum frame made by Earl Erdinand Zeppelin, the inventor of large and practical rigid airships in the 19th century, the lightness, corrosion resistance and durability of aluminum alloy have appeared in people’s vision. For the next 100 years, it became one of the most used metals in the aviation industry.
The emergence of aluminum cylinder blocks and other aluminum engine parts used by the Wright brothers promoted the development of aluminum alloy materials in aerospace. However, due to the development of large jets and international flights in the past few decades, the requirements for shell and engine parts have become higher and higher, which has prompted the development and use of aluminum alloys with higher durability and wear resistance.
What are the commonly used aluminum alloy materials in aerospace?
Aluminum alloy 2014: It has excellent arc and resistance welding functions, but the cutting corrosion resistance is often used in the internal structure.
Aluminum alloy 2024: It has high-quality wear resistance and high tensile strength of about 470Mpa. The main application is the fuselage and wing panels.
Aluminum alloy 5052: This is an aluminum alloy material with the highest strength and high ductility, suitable for various shapes. It also has excellent corrosion resistance.
Aluminum alloy 6061: Because it is quite strong and has a lighter weight, it is the best choice for making the fuselage and wings of light aircraft.
Aluminum alloy 7050: has high corrosion resistance and high fracture resistance. Commonly used in wing skins and fuselages, especially military aircraft.
Aluminum alloy 2219: This is a less common aluminum alloy, it has good weldability, but the weld requires heat treatment to maintain corrosion resistance. Application example: the external fuel tank of the first successfully launched Columbia space shuttle.
Aluminum alloy 6063: This is a kind of aluminum alloy mainly used for complex extrusion. Only the aesthetics of aircraft precision machining and architectural finishes exist.
Summarize
Although the status of titanium alloys in the aerospace industry is gradually rising, experts in this industry are optimistic about the future of aluminum alloys in the aerospace industry, and it is expected that the demand for aluminum will double in the next ten years.