Advanced Aluminum Lithium Alloys for Bombardier C Series Fuselage

Bombardier Aerospace has recently launched a new family of single aisle passenger jets seating 110 -145 passengers. This new aircraft will incorporate many new technologies, including the use of  low density alloys. Recent alloy developments have produced a new generation of Al-Li alloys which provide not only density weight savings, but also many property benefits such as increase static properties, excellent corrosion resistance, improved fatigue strength, high fatigue crack growth resistance, a good strength-toughness combination and compatibility with standard manufacturing techniques. This results in a family of well-balanced, light weight aluminum alloys. Bombardier has worked with Alcan Aerospace in the application of these new aluminum-lithium alloys for the fuselage of the new C Series aircraft.

This presentation will discuss the properties of these new alloys, the manufacturing processes and the development activities for the C Series aircraft.