Non-ferrous metals in their alloyed forms are used extensively in the manufacture of aircraft structures. Non-ferrous alloys having aluminium or magnesium as a base are termed “Light Alloys " while those with other non-ferrous metals as base are termed as “ Heavy Alloys ”.
The properties and uses of the commonly used non-ferrous light alloys are given below:
Name of Alloy Group: Duralumin
Constituents approx. percent: Copper (4.5%) Magnesium (0.7%) Manganese (0.7%) Silicon (0.7%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: Nearly as strong as mild steel. Requires heat treatment and “Age-hardens”. Very light weight (about one third that of steel).
Uses: Aircraft sheets, tubes, rivcts, engine and air-frame structural parts.
Name of Alloy Group: Alclad
Constituents approx. percent: Duralumin sheet with coating of pure aluminium on each side.
Properties: Combines the properties of duralumin with the resistance to corrosion of aluminium. Uses: Heat treatment as for duralumin.
Name of Alloy Group: Alpax
Constituents approx. percent: Silicon (13%) Iron (0.6%) Manganese (0.5%) Zinc (0.1%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: Excellent casting qualities, Stronger than aluminium, Fair corrosion resistance, Low thermal expansion.
Uses: Intricate castings, aircraft and engine parts
Name of Alloy Group: "Y" Alloy
Constituents approx. percent: Copper (4.5%) Nickel (2.3%) Magnesium (1.7%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: Withstands relatively high temperatures. Resistant to corrosion and fatigue. Can be cast or wrought. Requires heat treatment and age hardens. Castings less responsive to heat treatment.
Uses: Pistons and cylinder heads.
Name of Alloy Group: Hiduminium
Constituents approx. percent: Copper (2.5%) Nickel (1.5%) Magnesium (1.2%) Iron (1.5%) Silicon (1%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: As strong as mild steel. Requires heat treatmcnt. Requires low temperature heat treatment to age harden
Uses: Pistons, cylinder heads, Aircraft structural parts.
Name of Alloy Group: Elektron
Constituents approx. percent: Aluminium (11%) Zinc (3.5%) Manganese (2.5%) Magnesium remainder.
Properties: Very light about 3/4 strength of duralumin. Fair corrosion resistance May be cast or wrought. Requires heat treatment.
Uses: Crankcases, fuel and oil tanks, aircraft landing wheels etc.
The properties and uses of the common non-ferrous heavy alloys are given in the below table:
The properties and uses of the commonly used non-ferrous light alloys are given below:
Name of Alloy Group: Duralumin
Constituents approx. percent: Copper (4.5%) Magnesium (0.7%) Manganese (0.7%) Silicon (0.7%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: Nearly as strong as mild steel. Requires heat treatment and “Age-hardens”. Very light weight (about one third that of steel).
Uses: Aircraft sheets, tubes, rivcts, engine and air-frame structural parts.
Name of Alloy Group: Alclad
Constituents approx. percent: Duralumin sheet with coating of pure aluminium on each side.
Properties: Combines the properties of duralumin with the resistance to corrosion of aluminium. Uses: Heat treatment as for duralumin.
Name of Alloy Group: Alpax
Constituents approx. percent: Silicon (13%) Iron (0.6%) Manganese (0.5%) Zinc (0.1%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: Excellent casting qualities, Stronger than aluminium, Fair corrosion resistance, Low thermal expansion.
Uses: Intricate castings, aircraft and engine parts
Name of Alloy Group: "Y" Alloy
Constituents approx. percent: Copper (4.5%) Nickel (2.3%) Magnesium (1.7%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: Withstands relatively high temperatures. Resistant to corrosion and fatigue. Can be cast or wrought. Requires heat treatment and age hardens. Castings less responsive to heat treatment.
Uses: Pistons and cylinder heads.
Name of Alloy Group: Hiduminium
Constituents approx. percent: Copper (2.5%) Nickel (1.5%) Magnesium (1.2%) Iron (1.5%) Silicon (1%) Aluminium remainder.
Properties: As strong as mild steel. Requires heat treatmcnt. Requires low temperature heat treatment to age harden
Uses: Pistons, cylinder heads, Aircraft structural parts.
Name of Alloy Group: Elektron
Constituents approx. percent: Aluminium (11%) Zinc (3.5%) Manganese (2.5%) Magnesium remainder.
Properties: Very light about 3/4 strength of duralumin. Fair corrosion resistance May be cast or wrought. Requires heat treatment.
Uses: Crankcases, fuel and oil tanks, aircraft landing wheels etc.
The properties and uses of the common non-ferrous heavy alloys are given in the below table:
Comments
Post a Comment