Types of Aircraft Aluminum
- Aircrafts are made of the strongest aluminum alloys.buisness jet image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com
The metal plating on aircraft and spacecraft contains aluminum, the most common metal on earth. When other metals are mixed with the aluminum, they form aluminum alloys. Only the strongest aluminum alloys are used to construct aircraft. Heat treatment, or tempering, toughens or softens the alloy to produce various mechanical properties. - This aircraft grade aluminum alloy includes zinc, magnesium, copper and other metals. It's strength makes it the most common aircraft aluminum. It can be tempered to produce different grades with varying mechanical properties. The most common types are 7075-O, 7075-T6 and 7075-T651.
- Aluminum alloy 6061 contains magnesium, silicon, iron and other elements. Although not as strong as 7075, it's easier to work with and more durable. It also comes in various types: 6061-O, 6061-T4 and 6061-T6.
- Some aircrafts also contain aluminum alloy 2024, usually along with 7075. It contains copper and magnesium and is less resistant to corrosion than other aluminum alloys.
