- 30 December 2024
Aluminum is one of the most common metals in the Earth's crust. The fairly simple production method of aluminum and its physical properties have made it the most popular metal in our lives, from everyday use to the space industry.
Aluminum is used in electrical engineering to produce wires, cutlery, but also cladding for aircraft bodies. Today, aluminum accounts for 50% to 90% of the total weight of aircraft and spacecraft. It is aluminum that allows engineers to create lightweight, energy-efficient, corrosion-resistant machines with maximum efficiency.
Aerospace uses aluminum alloys of the 2xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx and 8xxx series. The most widely used alloy in aircraft construction is 7075, consisting of aluminum, zinc, magnesium and copper. In terms of strength, this alloy is not inferior to steel, but at the same time it is three times lighter. Aircraft designers continue to look for materials to make planes even lighter. The most promising in this regard are the new aluminum-lithium and aluminum-scandium alloys.
In the aircraft industry, aluminum is mainly used in alloy form. Aluminum alloy sheets are used to make both the inner frame and outer skin of aircraft. Aircraft use aluminum sheet from 3.3 to 0.25 mm thick. Aluminum alloys have a successful combination of properties: low density (2500-2900 kg/m3 ), high strength (up to 500-600 MPa), corrosion resistance.
Aluminum oxide is also a solid fuel for rocket engines that accelerate the first stage of spacecraft. For example, the world's most powerful launcher, the Saturn 5, capable of carrying a 140-ton payload into low Earth orbit, burns 36 tons of alumina powder during its flight.
High-strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloys and medium- and high-strength Al-Mg-Cu alloys, strengthened by heat treatment, are successfully used in aircraft manufacturing. They are the structural material of the skin and internal airframe components of aircraft (fuselage, wing, keel, etc.). Airframes, deck systems, landing gear, propeller blades, instruments and interior trim are made of weldable Al-Mg, Al-Mn, Al-Cu, Al-Mg-Li, Al-Mg-Si aluminum alloys.
To reduce the weight of the aircraft, aluminum-lithium alloys of the main alloy systems Al-Mg-Li (1420, 1421, 1424) and Al-Cu-Li (1460, 1464, 1469) are used. The use of high-strength aluminum-lithium alloys in welded, sealed hull fuel tank support structures makes it possible to reduce their dead weight by 12-15%. Another advantage of aluminum alloys is their behavior at cryogenic temperatures in contact with liquid oxygen, hydrogen and helium. These alloys are subjected to so-called cryogenic hardening, that is, the so-called strength and ductility increase as the temperature decreases.
Aluminum PA6 belongs to the group of high-strength, heat-treated alloys. This allows the alloy to develop its full potential and increase its strength many times over. High strength and good machinability make PA6 aluminum an ideal choice for the aerospace and defense industries.
What properties does PA6 aluminum have? Properties are a combination of high strength and resistance to "fatigue". This aluminum alloy provides good corrosion resistance. Welding is possible here using resistance welding techniques. Due to its excellent strength, ductility and deformability, PA6 aluminum is widely used in engineering. The strength that PA6 aluminum has is also a huge advantage. These properties are used in the construction of aircraft and space rockets.
Where do we primarily find PA6 aluminum ? Applications include the aerospace industry, in defense technology and in engineering and mechanical engineering (such as in the form of high-strength structural parts and rivets). Thanks to its valuable properties, it is suitable for use in these sectors for parts machined under heavy loads. The greatest advantage is the high strength of PA6 aluminum. The use of this alloy in the manufacture of rockets allows engineers and scientists to create models with less weight.
