The generational classification of aviation aluminum alloys at home and abroad is mainly deformed aluminum alloys. The wrought aluminum alloys used in aviation are mainly 2XXX series (Al-CuMg series) and 7XXX series (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu series), and others such as 6XXX series (Al-Mg-Si series) and Al-Li Although the alloy also has certain applications, the overall usage is small. The following will introduce the development history of aviation aluminum alloys with the development of 2XXX series and 7XXX series aluminum alloys. Table 1 summarizes the key technologies and representative alloys of each generation of aluminum alloys.
The first generation is static strength aluminum alloy, which was developed from 1906 to the end of the 1950s. It was mainly designed to meet the design requirements of aircraft static strength. It was developed with the invention of aluminum alloy precipitation hardening technology and was used under peak aging conditions. Typical alloys are 2024-T3, 7075-T6, 2A12-T4, 7A09-T6, etc. Aircraft crashes caused by stress corrosion failure of aluminum alloys prompted aircraft design to put forward the need for corrosion resistance of high-strength aluminum alloys. At this time, with the invention of over-aging heat treatment technologies such as T73 and T76, material scientists developed the second generation of corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys. , typical alloys are 7075-T73, 7075-T76, 7A09-T73, 7A09-T76, etc.
The United States developed the third generation of high-purity aluminum alloys in the early 1970s. Typical alloys are 7050 and 7475 alloys, which are developed based on 7075 by reducing Fe and Si and adding Zr. 2124, 2224, and 2324 are developed based on 2024 alloy. etc. At this time, Europe also developed alloys such as 7010 and 7040 simultaneously. China also developed 2D70, 2D12, 2B06, 2124, and 7050 at the same time. and other alloys.