Application of Aluminum Alloy in Aviation Industry

Aluminum alloy is widely used in the aviation industry due to its lightweight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and ease of processing, making it an indispensable material in the aviation industry. The following is a detailed explanation of the application of aluminum alloys in the aviation industry:

1、 Structural materials

Aluminum alloy, as a lightweight and high-strength alloy material, is widely used as a structural material in the aviation industry. It has high specific strength and excellent processing performance, and is commonly used in the manufacturing of structural components such as aircraft fuselage, skin, cabin doors, truss frames, wall panels, skin joints, and truss joints. These components not only need to withstand enormous loads, but also maintain stable performance in extreme environments. The high strength and lightweight characteristics of aluminum alloy enable aircraft to achieve longer range and higher fuel efficiency while ensuring safety.

2、 High strength aluminum alloy

The aviation industry mainly develops aluminum alloy materials with high strength, high toughness, and strong corrosion resistance. Common grades include 7075, 2000 series, and 7000 series. These materials have high yield strength and good mechanical properties, and are widely used in aircraft structural components, accounting for 70% -80% of the proportion, and have replaced expensive titanium alloys in many fields. For example, 44% of the weight of the Airbus A380 aircraft fuselage is composed of aluminum alloy.

3、 Special purpose materials

Aluminum alloy is also used to manufacture radiation shielding components for spacecraft. For example, Austrian scientists have developed a new type of aluminum alloy that has 100 times the radiation resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy widely used in spacecraft, and can still maintain flexibility and strength even after being exposed to high doses of radiation. In addition, aluminum lithium alloy (Al Li alloy), as a new generation of high-performance aluminum alloy, has gradually become an important material in the aviation industry due to its outstanding low density and excellent comprehensive performance.

4、 Additive Manufacturing

The application of additive manufacturing technology in the aviation industry is gradually increasing, and aluminum alloys play an important role in it. Typical application examples of additive manufacturing aluminum alloy materials in key components of the aviation industry include engine equipment, main components, rotary tables, remote control parts, etc. Aluminum alloy arc additive manufacturing technology is widely used in the aviation industry for manufacturing lightweight components, such as structural parts and wings of aircraft.

5、 Civil aircraft

Aluminum alloy is also widely used in civil aircraft. For example, in the large passenger aircraft C919 with independent intellectual property rights in China, about 15.5% of the aluminum lithium alloy material is used to manufacture the front fuselage skin. In addition, aluminum lithium alloys are widely used in the manufacturing of aircraft skins, long truss frames, wall panels, and other components.

6、 Rockets and satellites

Aluminum alloy also plays an important role in the manufacturing of launch vehicles and satellites. Aluminum alloy die-casting parts are widely used in the manufacturing of aircraft fuselage and structural components. At the same time, aluminum alloy is also extensively used in the manufacturing of artificial satellites to ensure that they can withstand high temperatures and corrosion when passing through the Earth's outer atmosphere.

7、 Advantages of Aluminum Alloy

Lightweight: The low density of aluminum alloy gives it an advantage in reducing structural weight, which helps improve the fuel efficiency and load capacity of aircraft.

High strength: The strength of aluminum alloy is close to or exceeds that of high-quality steel, and it has good mechanical properties.

Corrosion resistance: Aluminum alloy has good corrosion resistance and is suitable for various environmental conditions.

Easy to process: Aluminum alloy is easy to process, reducing production costs and time.

Low cost: The relatively low cost of aluminum alloy makes it more economically advantageous in large-scale production.

In summary, aluminum alloys have an irreplaceable position and role in the aviation industry. With the continuous advancement of technology and the sustained development of the aviation industry, the application of aluminum alloys will become more extensive and in-depth.