Aluminum alloys for high temperature application

Airware solutions are considered for various applications besides the typical aircraft structural components, for example for engine parts, because of their low density, excellent corrosion resistance, and a good combination of strength and toughness. These applications often require high temperature resistance.

The behaviour at high temperature of the two baseline aluminum alloys 2219 and 2618 are compared to new Constellium alloys. Airware alloys and new conventional alloys are tested in this study. Tensile tests are done at room and high temperature (150°C, 200°C, 250°C and 300°C). Alloys are also tested after long time exposure at high temperatures (100 h, 1000 h and 3000 h at 150°C, 200°C, 250°C and 300°C). After exposure at temperature without any load, samples were tested at room and exposed temperature. Results show that the drop of tensile properties after exposure at temperature is independent of the product form; plate or extrusion; or the testing direction. Constellium has developed a model capable to predict the static behaviour of those alloys after exposure at high temperature tested at the exposed temperature or at room temperature. Creep tests are also performed between 110°C and 200°C and show that AlCuLi products under certain conditions have better creep resistance than conventional alloys.