Aluminium 1460: Uses, Properties, and Composition
Imagine a material so versatile and resilient that it not only withstands the extreme conditions of outer space but also…
Imagine a material that combines lightweight properties with remarkable strength, offering exceptional performance in some of the most demanding industries. Enter Aluminium 2090, an advanced Al-Cu-Li alloy known for its unique composition and impressive mechanical characteristics. This alloy is not just another aluminum variant; it stands out due to its enhanced corrosion resistance, superior thermal stability, and excellent machinability, making it a top choice for aerospace and automotive applications.
In this article, we will delve into the intricate details of Aluminium 2090, exploring its precise chemical makeup and the elements that contribute to its standout properties. We’ll examine the mechanical, physical, and thermal characteristics that make it a preferred material for engineers and manufacturers. Additionally, we will highlight its diverse applications, from aircraft components to automotive parts, showcasing how this alloy meets the stringent requirements of these high-performance fields.
Whether you’re an engineer seeking the ideal material for a cutting-edge project, a manufacturer looking to optimize your production processes, or a student eager to expand your knowledge, this comprehensive guide will provide valuable insights into Aluminium 2090. Prepare to uncover the secrets behind this extraordinary alloy and discover why it continues to revolutionize industries with its unparalleled attributes.
Aluminium 2090, also known as UNS A92090, is a high-performance aluminium-lithium (Al-Li) alloy that stands out for its unique combination of mechanical, physical, and thermal properties. This alloy is particularly noted for its lightweight and high strength-to-weight ratio, along with excellent corrosion resistance, making it an ideal choice for demanding applications where both strength and weight reduction are critical.
In modern engineering, the need for materials that offer both high performance and reduced weight is paramount. Aluminium 2090 meets these requirements by incorporating lithium, which significantly enhances its mechanical properties while maintaining low density. This makes it a preferred material in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and marine, where performance and efficiency are key.
The development of Aluminium 2090 results from ongoing advancements in metallurgy and materials science. By carefully adjusting the alloying elements, researchers and engineers have created an alloy that often exceeds the stringent requirements of high-performance applications. The inclusion of elements like copper and lithium in specific proportions contributes to its superior strength, toughness, and resistance to environmental factors.
Key features of Aluminium 2090 include high strength, low density, excellent corrosion resistance, and thermal stability.
Aluminium 2090 is extensively used in the aerospace industry for components such as aircraft fuselage bulkheads, floor bulkhead stiffeners, and wing structures. Its lightweight and high strength also make it ideal for automotive parts, including engine blocks and wheels. Additionally, its good corrosion resistance and thermal properties enable its use in marine and electronic components.
As industries continue to push for better performance and efficiency, the demand for advanced materials like Aluminium 2090 is expected to grow. Ongoing research and development aim to further enhance its properties, potentially leading to new applications and improved performance in existing ones.
Aluminium 2090 is a specialized aluminum-lithium alloy known for its unique composition and properties. This alloy combines several elements to achieve a balance of lightweight characteristics, strength, and durability, making it particularly suitable for demanding applications such as aerospace.
In addition to the major components, Aluminium 2090 contains several minor elements that enhance its performance:
Aluminium 2090 may contain traces of other elements, each less than or equal to 0.050%, with a total not exceeding 0.15%. These are carefully controlled to maintain desirable properties.
The precise balance of these elements makes Aluminium 2090 a strong, lightweight alloy ideal for aerospace applications. Its unique combination of low density, high strength, and improved stiffness ensures it meets the rigorous demands of advanced engineering projects.
Aluminium 2090 is highly regarded for its excellent mechanical properties, making it a popular choice in industries requiring strong, durable materials.
With a tensile strength of approximately 550 MPa, Aluminium 2090 can withstand significant stress before failing, making it ideal for structural components that bear heavy loads.
The yield strength of Aluminium 2090 varies with temper, ranging from about 520 MPa for T6 temper to around 360 MPa for T86 temper. This property indicates the stress level at which the material begins to deform plastically.
Aluminium 2090 has an elongation at break of around 6% for T6 temper and 5% for T86 temper, indicating how much the material can stretch before breaking. Higher values suggest better ductility, which is beneficial for forming processes.
The hardness of Aluminium 2090 is approximately 176 Vickers. For specific tempers, it varies, being about 110 HB for T6 and 105 HB for T86. Hardness measures the alloy’s resistance to deformation and wear.
With an elastic modulus of 76 GPa, Aluminium 2090 is quite stiff, meaning it resists deformation under load.
The physical properties of Aluminium 2090 contribute to its performance in various applications.
Aluminium 2090 has a low density of 2.59 g/cm³, making it advantageous in weight-sensitive applications like aerospace and automotive industries.
The melting point of Aluminium 2090 ranges from 560 to 650°C, essential for processes like casting and welding.
The thermal expansion coefficient of Aluminium 2090 is 23.6 µm/m°C at 20-100°C, indicating how much the material expands or contracts with temperature changes.
With a thermal conductivity of 88 W/mK, Aluminium 2090 efficiently transfers heat, suitable for applications requiring good heat dissipation.
For the T86 temper, Aluminium 2090 has an electrical conductivity of 31.7 MS/m, important for applications needing efficient electrical conduction.
Aluminium 2090 has excellent thermal properties, with a thermal conductivity of 88 W/mK, ensuring effective heat transfer. Its specific heat capacity is 1.203 J/g-°C at 100°C, indicating the heat energy required to raise the material’s temperature.
Aluminium 2090 can withstand temperatures up to 500°C without losing structural integrity, making it suitable for high-temperature applications.
Aluminium 2090 naturally resists corrosion due to its oxide layer, which protects the metal from oxidation or corrosion in air or water vapor, ensuring durability in corrosive environments.
Aluminium 2090 can endure temperatures up to 500°C without significant degradation, making it ideal for high-temperature applications like furnaces or kilns.
Aluminium 2090 is widely used in aerospace because it offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it perfect for lightweight yet strong components.
In the automotive industry, Aluminium 2090 is prized for its lightweight strength, enhancing vehicle performance and fuel efficiency.
The marine industry uses Aluminium 2090 for its corrosion resistance and lightweight properties.
The medical industry uses Aluminium 2090 for its great mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
Aluminium 2090’s thermal stability and ability to maintain integrity at high temperatures make it ideal for parts in furnaces and kilns.
Its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity makes Aluminium 2090 ideal for applications needing efficient heat dissipation and electrical performance.
Aluminium 2090’s high strength, light weight, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability make it versatile across various industries. Its adaptability and performance under demanding conditions highlight its importance in modern engineering.
The heat treatment of Aluminium 2090 is critical in enhancing its mechanical properties, making it suitable for high-performance applications. The process typically involves three key steps: solution heat treatment, quenching, and aging.
During solution heat treatment, the alloy is heated to a specific temperature range, typically between 500°C and 560°C, to dissolve the alloying elements into the aluminum matrix. This step ensures the complete dissolution of alloying elements such as copper, lithium, and zirconium, creating a homogeneous solid solution.
After solution heat treatment, the alloy is rapidly cooled, usually in water or another suitable medium. Rapid cooling prevents the dissolved elements from precipitating out, forming a supersaturated solid solution. Quenching is crucial as it locks the alloying elements in place, setting the stage for subsequent aging processes that enhance the alloy’s mechanical properties.
The final step in the heat treatment process is aging, which can be either natural or artificial.
Heat treatment significantly improves the mechanical properties of Aluminium 2090. Post heat treatment, Aluminium 2090 can achieve tensile strengths up to 550 MPa and yield strengths up to 520 MPa, depending on the specific temper and aging process. The elongation at break remains around 6%, indicating good ductility and toughness.
Aluminium 2090 is known for its excellent machinability, making it easier to work with compared to harder metals like steel.
The alloy’s softness reduces tool wear, allowing for smoother finishes and more precise dimensions, which is beneficial for manufacturing intricate components.
Optimizing tooling and cutting parameters is essential. High-speed steel or carbide tools with appropriate speeds and feeds can minimize tool wear and enhance the surface finish. Lubricants or coolants help dissipate heat generated during machining, preventing thermal damage.
Given Aluminium 2090’s low melting point, proper cooling is crucial during machining to maintain structural integrity, reduce thermal expansion or deformation, and ensure consistent performance.
The machinability of Aluminium 2090 makes it suitable for various high-precision applications.
In summary, the heat treatment and machining processes of Aluminium 2090 play a vital role in optimizing its mechanical properties and manufacturability, making it a preferred material in high-performance engineering applications.
Aluminium 2090 is known for its excellent corrosion and heat resistance, making it ideal for various demanding environments.
The corrosion resistance of Aluminium 2090 is primarily due to the formation of a natural oxide layer on its surface. This thin, stable layer forms when the alloy is exposed to air or water vapor, acting as a protective barrier against further oxidation. Additionally, the alloy’s chemical composition, which includes elements like copper, lithium, and zirconium, helps maintain the integrity of this protective layer.
Aluminium 2090’s notable heat resistance makes it suitable for applications involving high temperatures.
Aluminium 2090 can maintain its structural integrity at temperatures up to 500°C, making it suitable for high-temperature environments such as industrial furnaces.
With a melting point between 560 and 650°C, Aluminium 2090 can withstand high temperatures without losing its structural form. This makes it ideal for applications involving prolonged heat exposure.
Its high thermal conductivity of 88 W/m-K allows Aluminium 2090 to efficiently dissipate heat, making it useful for thermal management in electronic devices.
The excellent corrosion and heat resistance of Aluminium 2090 make it a preferred material in several high-performance applications.
In aerospace engineering, Aluminium 2090’s corrosion resistance ensures the durability of aircraft components exposed to harsh environments. Similarly, in the automotive industry, the alloy’s ability to withstand high temperatures and resist corrosion enhances the durability and performance of engine components and other critical parts.
In the medical field, Aluminium 2090’s corrosion resistance ensures that devices and equipment remain safe and functional, even with frequent cleaning and sterilization.
The marine industry uses Aluminium 2090 for its resistance to seawater corrosion, making it ideal for structural parts like hull reinforcements and superstructures.
Aluminium 2090 can be easily shaped and machined, making it versatile for various engineering applications requiring corrosion and heat resistance.
With a low density of 2.59 g/cm³, Aluminium 2090 is perfect for lightweight designs, which is crucial for improving performance and fuel efficiency in aerospace and automotive applications.
Aluminium 2090 is widely used in aircraft fuselage bulkhead webs because of its high tensile strength and low density. These properties are critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the aircraft’s body while contributing to overall weight reduction.
Aluminium 2090’s strength and lightweight nature ensure that these edges can withstand aerodynamic forces, improving the aircraft’s fuel efficiency and performance.
Floor bulkhead stiffeners reinforce the aircraft’s structure, ensuring rigidity. Aluminium 2090’s high yield strength and good elongation at break make it ideal for these components, enhancing durability and longevity.
Engine casings made from Aluminium 2090 benefit from the alloy’s high strength and excellent thermal stability, enabling them to withstand the harsh conditions within the engine.
Aluminium 2090’s high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance make it ideal for air intakes, ensuring durability and efficiency.
The landing gear must be strong yet lightweight. Aluminium 2090 provides the necessary strength while reducing weight, improving fuel efficiency and maneuverability.
Aluminium 2090 offers significant weight savings, leading to better fuel efficiency, lower costs, and reduced environmental impact.
Aluminium 2090’s natural oxide layer protects against corrosion, extending the lifespan of aircraft components and reducing maintenance costs.
The alloy’s stability up to 500°C makes it suitable for high-temperature applications like engine parts and heat shields.
Aluminium 2090 is easy to weld and machine, facilitating the creation of complex aerospace structures with high precision.
Aluminium 2090 offers significant weight savings, excellent corrosion resistance, and thermal stability, making it a top choice for various aerospace applications.
The alloy’s good weldability ensures strong joints, and its ease of machining allows for precise fabrication of intricate components.
Aluminium 2090 primarily consists of 93.2 – 95.6% aluminum, with notable amounts of copper (2.4 – 3%), lithium (1.9 – 2.6%), and zirconium (0.080 – 0.15%). Smaller quantities of magnesium, titanium, iron, zinc, silicon, manganese, and chromium are also present.
Aluminium 2024 is made up of 90.7 – 94.7% aluminum, with significant amounts of copper (3.8 – 4.9%), manganese (0.3 – 0.9%), and magnesium (1.2 – 1.8%). Unlike Aluminium 2090, it does not contain lithium, resulting in a higher density.
Aluminium 6061 mainly contains 95.8 – 98.6% aluminum, along with magnesium (0.8 – 1.2%), silicon (0.4 – 0.8%), and copper (0.15 – 0.4%). This alloy does not include lithium or zirconium, leading to different mechanical and thermal properties.
Aluminium 8090, like 2090, contains lithium but in different proportions. It has less copper and more magnesium, affecting its properties, especially in terms of anisotropy and fracture toughness.
Aluminium 2090 has a high tensile strength of 550 MPa and a yield strength of 520 MPa, with an elongation at break of around 6%. Its elastic modulus is 76 GPa, making it one of the strongest and most weldable aluminum alloys.
With a tensile strength of about 470 MPa and a yield strength of around 290 MPa, Aluminium 2024 is strong but does not match the tensile and yield strengths of Aluminium 2090, making it less suitable for applications requiring maximum strength.
Aluminium 6061 offers a tensile strength of approximately 310 MPa and a yield strength of around 280 MPa. While it has lower mechanical strength compared to Aluminium 2090, it is well-known for good weldability and corrosion resistance, making it versatile for various engineering applications.
The mechanical properties of Aluminium 8090 are similar to those of Aluminium 2090. However, 8090 shows more variability in fracture toughness, particularly in the transverse direction, which can limit its use in certain industries.
Aluminium 2090 has a density of 2.59 g/cm³, making it lighter than many other aluminum alloys due to the presence of lithium. Its melting point ranges from 560 to 650 °C, with a thermal conductivity of 88 W/m-K and a thermal expansion coefficient of 23.6 μm/m-°C.
With a density of around 2.77 g/cm³ and a melting point range of 502 – 638 °C, Aluminium 2024 is less suitable for weight-sensitive applications due to its higher density.
Aluminium 6061 has a density of approximately 2.70 g/cm³ and a melting point range of 582 – 652 °C. Its balanced combination of properties makes it suitable for general engineering, automotive, and construction applications.
Aluminium 8090 has a similar density to 2090 due to the presence of lithium, but it exhibits different thermal expansion and conductivity properties, impacting its use in specific high-performance applications.
Aluminium 2090 is primarily used in aerospace applications due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for aircraft components like floor bulkhead stiffeners, wing leading and trailing edges, and fuselage bulkhead webs. It is also used in automotive manufacturing and other industries where weight reduction and high strength are crucial.
Aluminium 2024 is widely used in aerospace and military applications due to its high strength, though it is not as lightweight as 2090, limiting its use in weight-sensitive applications.
This alloy is commonly used in general engineering, automotive parts, and construction due to its balanced properties of strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance. While versatile, it is not as specialized for high-performance aerospace applications as 2090.
Also used in aerospace, Aluminium 8090 faces limitations due to its higher degree of anisotropy. As a result, 2090 is often preferred for applications requiring high strength and low weight, particularly in critical aerospace components.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions:
The main components of Aluminium 2090 are as follows: Aluminum (93.2 – 95.6%), Copper (2.4 – 3%), Lithium (1.9 – 2.6%), Magnesium (≤ 0.25%), Titanium (≤ 0.15%), Iron (≤ 0.12%), Zinc (≤ 0.10%), Silicon (≤ 0.10%), Zirconium (0.080 – 0.15%), Manganese (≤ 0.050%), Chromium (≤ 0.050%), with other elements each ≤ 0.050% and a total of ≤ 0.15%.
Aluminium 2090 (UNS A92090) is known for its high mechanical strength and excellent properties. The alloy has a tensile strength ranging from 390 to 450 MPa, depending on the temper, with a yield strength of approximately 360 MPa. The elongation at break is around 5-6%, and the hardness is about 105-110 HB. Additionally, it exhibits good fracture toughness, excellent fatigue resistance, and retains structural integrity up to 500°C. These mechanical properties make Aluminium 2090 particularly suitable for aerospace and automotive applications where high strength, low weight, and good thermal resistance are essential.
Aluminium 2090 is extensively used in the aerospace and automotive industries due to its high strength, lightweight, and excellent corrosion resistance. In aerospace, it is utilized for manufacturing structural components such as fuselage, wings, and beams, as well as engine and landing gear parts, enhancing weight reduction, fuel efficiency, and overall aircraft performance. Its fatigue resistance and thermal properties make it suitable for applications requiring durability under repeated stress and high temperatures. In the automotive sector, Aluminium 2090’s lightweight characteristics help reduce vehicle weight, improving fuel efficiency and meeting emissions standards. It is commonly used in wheels, engine blocks, and other high-strength parts, benefiting from its good formability and corrosion resistance.
The thermal properties of Aluminium 2090 (UNS A92090) are crucial for its application in various industries. The alloy has a thermal expansion coefficient of 23.6 μm/m-°C between 20°C and 100°C. Its thermal conductivity is 88 W/m-K, which ensures efficient heat dissipation. The specific heat capacity is 1.203 J/g-°C at 100°C. Aluminium 2090’s melting point ranges from 560°C to 650°C, with the solidus at 560°C and the liquidus at 650°C. Additionally, it exhibits good thermal stability, maintaining structural integrity up to 500°C. These properties make Aluminium 2090 suitable for applications requiring reliable performance under varying thermal conditions, particularly in aerospace and automotive sectors.
Aluminium 2090 compares favorably to other aluminum alloys in terms of strength and corrosion resistance. It offers high mechanical properties, with tensile strengths around 180 MPa and yield strengths about 130 MPa, and in certain tempers like 2090-T86, the strength can reach approximately 390 MPa. This positions it on par with or even superior to some high-strength aluminum alloys, such as those in the 7xxx series, which can exceed 500 MPa but often lack the specific advantages provided by Aluminium 2090’s lithium content. In terms of corrosion resistance, Aluminium 2090 performs excellently due to its natural oxide layer, making it well-suited for use in corrosive environments. This corrosion resistance, especially in the T86 temper, offers significant stress corrosion cracking resistance, which is crucial for high-stress applications. While the 7xxx series may require additional treatments to achieve similar corrosion resistance, Aluminium 2090’s balance of high strength, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance, combined with good machinability and weldability, makes it a preferred choice for demanding applications in aerospace and automotive industries.
Aluminium 2090 offers several benefits when used in aircraft components. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, providing excellent tensile and yield strength while maintaining a low density, which helps reduce the overall weight of the aircraft without compromising structural integrity. Its good corrosion resistance due to the natural oxide layer protects it from environmental exposure. The alloy’s lightweight nature enhances fuel efficiency and flight speed, leading to operational cost savings. Aluminium 2090 also exhibits high thermal stability, suitable for components exposed to elevated temperatures. Its ease of machining and formability allows for the creation of complex shapes, and its excellent fatigue resistance ensures long-term reliability and safety. Additionally, the alloy’s good thermal and electrical conductivity is advantageous for heat dissipation and electrical systems. Finally, its weldability and heat-treatability provide flexibility in manufacturing and processing, making it a versatile choice for aerospace applications.
