NDE Methods for Determination of Thermal History and Mechanical Properties of Al-Li Alloys

Abstract

The search for lighter alloys which would reduce fuel consumption and hence the cost of air transportation has recently been focused on the aluminum-lithium system. The addition of lithium to aluminum increases the yield strength by typically an order of magnitude, and with the further addition of a few tenths of a percent of zirconium, which increases the ductility, alloys of aluminum, lithium, copper and magnesium can be made to meet the necessary specifications of low density, high strength and high ductility for aircraft applications.