Properties and Characteristics of Aluminum 2014
Some aviation observers predict that titanium and other composites will rule the roost when it comes to manufacturing aerospace structures and aircrafts. But that’s not a truth. Aluminum is still the most common and productive metal for aerospace industry. It has favourable properties like lightweight and high strength, technically advanced in alloying and forming, and also cost effective especially when comparing with composites and titanium. Aluminum alloys like Aluminum 2014 are not just suitable for civil aircrafts but it’s also very useful for high-performance military jets. For example, aluminum is broadly used in J-35 Joint Strike Fighter as it formed the six forged bulkheads that make the major load-bearing part of aircraft's mechanical structure.
Aluminum characteristics: With considerable lightweight, commercially pure aluminum has ultimate tensile strength of around 90MPa. Cold working process can double this strength. To increase strength, aluminum is mostly alloyed with elements like copper, silicon, manganese, zinc, or magnesium. Some aluminum alloys like QQ-A-200/2 are also heat treatable that makes them more hard and strengthened. At temperatures of below 0°, aluminum works more strongly than at room temperature plus there is no less ductile. Only some aluminum alloys can strongly work at higher temperatures like 500°F / 260°C, while most of them lose strength at higher temperatures.
Besides better strength-to-weight ratio and formability, aluminum alloys like 2014-T6511 also has anti-corrosion mechanism. When exposed to air/oxygen, aluminum automatically forms microscopic oxide coating that seals it from any type of environment changes. This tight chemical oxide bond shows that aluminum is not a natural metal; it just exists as a compound.
Aluminum alloys like Aluminum 2014 are available in almost all common forms. Sheet of aluminum alloy can be formed, stamped, drawn or spun. Many wrought or cast aluminum alloys can also be welded, brazed or even soldered. Fortunately, aluminum surfaces easily accept many types of finishes that can be chemical and mechanical both. Aluminum alloys are electrical conductive that’s why they are also used as electrical conductors. Aluminum is non-magnetic and non-sparking, it reflects radiant energy across the spectrum.
7075 is one of the most popular aluminum alloy for aerospace industry, in which zinc is primary alloying element. It is stronger than many steels and has extremely high fatigue strength with average machinability but it is less corrosion-resistant than many other aluminum alloys. Its chemical composition is as: 5.6-6.1% zinc, 2.1-2.5% magnesium, 1.2-1.6% copper, and less than 0.5% of chromium, silicon, manganese, iron, titanium, etc. It is mostly produced in some of the heat temper grades.
Conclusion: Simple and clear conclusion is that different aluminum alloys has different favourable properties, characteristics and features that aerospace industry demands. So, you should choose one according to your application needs. Choosing aluminum for aircraft manufacturing will always be the right decision if you purchase it from premier supplier. Choose FlightMetals as your premier supplier of aluminum products like AMS 4121, QQ-A-200/2, 2014-T6511, 2219-T851, AMS QQ-A-250/30, Aluminum 2014 and AMS 4599.
