Home > Press > Studying atomic structure of aluminum alloys for manufacturing modern aircraft
Abstract:
Researchers from the Belgorod State University (BSU) and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) studied aluminum alloys at the atomic level and found patterns that will help improve their structure. The findings will be useful for developing new alloys for modern aircraft.
According to Marat Gazizov, senior researcher at the BSU Laboratory of Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured and Heat-Resistant Materials, the study focused on the Al-Cu-Mg-Ag system used for the wing and fuselage skin. The aluminum alloys used in aircraft structures have a wealth of advantages, such as small weight and resistance to wear and fracture at elevated temperatures, as well as cyclic and shock loads.
"Aluminum is combined with copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), silver (Ag) and some other elements to achieve the desired properties. This process called alloying can significantly enhance the strength of the material treated by specific thermal or thermomechanical methods," Marat Gazizov explains.
Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloying helps obtain high heat resistance alloys, but according to the project lead, the evolution of the alloy's structure and mechanical properties in various thermal or thermomechanical treatment modes and operating conditions is still not well understood, which explains the choice of topic for this study.
Marat Gazizov adds that the alloys are used as a structural material for parts and assemblies exposed to elevated temperatures, which calls for a unique combination of strength, fracture toughness, and high fatigue crack growth resistance.
"These days, computer simulation is no longer viewed as a 'magic wand' and is commonly used to study atomic-level effects. While experimenting with the heat-resistant aluminum alloy containing very small quantities of copper, magnesium and silver, we observed the formation of dispersed particles with a thickness of only a few nanometers which make the alloy much stronger despite their small size. In addition, the particles turned out to be coherent and fit well into the aluminum matrix, like pieces of a puzzle, although with slight distortions in their atomic structure. Also, we found that the particles' structure and, therefore, the heat-treated alloy's mechanical behavior change according to a certain pattern," Anton Boev, a research scientist at Skoltech, notes.
The study, published in the journal Materials Characterization, enhances the understanding of the unique mechanical properties and structure of aluminum alloys. The combination of mechanical properties obtained by the team will help extend the lifetime of aircraft structures made from these materials.
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Ilyana Zolotareva
Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)
Cell: (915) 3500690
Copyright © Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related Links |
Related News Press |
News and information
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Possible Futures
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Discoveries
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy cancer cells April 5th, 2024
Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors April 5th, 2024
Materials/Metamaterials/Magnetoresistance
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Focused ion beam technology: A single tool for a wide range of applications January 12th, 2024
Announcements
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Aerospace/Space
Under pressure - space exploration in our time: Advancing space exploration through diverse collaborations and ethical policies February 16th, 2024
Bridging light and electrons January 12th, 2024
Manufacturing advances bring material back in vogue January 20th, 2023
Research partnerships
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024
'Sudden death' of quantum fluctuations defies current theories of superconductivity: Study challenges the conventional wisdom of superconducting quantum transitions January 12th, 2024
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
Premium Products | ||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||