Aluminum-lithium for aerospace

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Advanced Materials and Processes

OSTI ID:415461

Fielding, P S; Wolf, G J ^[1]

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1. Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, VA (United States)

Aluminum-lithium alloys were developed primarily to reduce the weight of aircraft and aerospace structures. Lithium is the lightest metallic element, and each 1% of lithium added to aluminum reduces alloy density by about 3% and increases modulus by about 5%. Though lithium has a solubility limit of 4.2% in aluminum, the amount of lithium ranges between 1 and 3% in commercial alloys. Aluminum-lithium alloys are most often selected for aerospace components because of their low density, high strength, and high specific modulus. However, other applications now exploit their excellent fatigue resistance and cryogenic toughness.

• OSTI ID: 415461
• Journal Information: Advanced Materials and Processes, Vol. 150, Issue 4; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ALUMINIUM BASE ALLOYS
MANUFACTURING
LITHIUM ALLOYS
COPPER ALLOYS
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MAGNESIUM ADDITIONS
SILVER ADDITIONS
MANGANESE ADDITIONS
WEIGHT
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
WELDABILITY
DESIGN
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
SPACE SHUTTLES
AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
HELICOPTERS
ECONOMICS