Development and Application of Aluminium-Lithium Alloy

Abstract

The history of aluminium-lithium alloys development has been reviewed in this paper. According to the strength, weld ability and corrosion resistance, thermal stability and plasticity, aluminium-lithium alloy has been categorized and the defects of aluminium-lithium alloys in early stage have been analyzed. As compared the third generation of aluminium-lithium alloy with normal aluminum alloy and composite materials, it indicates aluminium-lithium alloy has better performance, lower cost and reduced weight. After analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the rapid solidification, ingot casting metallurgy and electromagnetic simulated microgravity methods in synthesis of aluminium-lithium alloy, it has been found microgravity method has prominent effect on reducing the alloy segregation and lithium losses. Finally, the future development of aluminium-lithium alloys has been discussed.

Improving the properties of aluminum-lithium composites in aerospace applications: review

“…While casting the alloy, they may have a chance to explode while exposed to water. So safety measures should take care [32]. This literature summarizes that the addition of Li to Al alloys yields a weight reduction and an increase in Young's modulus.…”

“…In 1942, Alcoa Corporation USA announced a new generation of Al-Li alloy in 2020, with the composition like Al-Li-1.5, Mg-0.5, Mn-0.010, and Cd) where the Li amount was limited to 1wt% and the minor copy of Cd was mixed. After the upcoming year in the late 1950s, the R and D department further researched and developed 1420 Al-Li-1.5, Mg-0.5, Mn-0.010, and Zr) alloy of Al-Mg-Li-Zr series in 1967, having an elastic modulus, higher strength, and better welding reliability compared to 2020 [32].…”

A review of manufacturing processes, mechanical properties and precipitations for aluminum lithium alloys used in aeronautic applications

“…The first generation of aluminum lithium alloys was used in military aircraft in 1957 in the form of 2020 Al–Li plate used by Alcoa in 1958 in the wings of the navy's Vigilante aircraft [ 2 , 3 ] and it comes down to the advantages that Lithium offers on the reduction of the density of aluminum alloys [ 4 ], compared to the commercial 7xxx and 2xxx aluminum alloys series [ 5 , 6 ]. Lithium is the lightest metal, just hydrogen and helium are before it in the periodic table [ 7 ]. It shows that with the addition of 1 wt% of lithium to aluminum, elastic modulus will increase by 6% and the alloy density will decrease by 3% [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Lithium is the lightest metal, just hydrogen and helium are before it in the periodic table [ 7 ]. It shows that with the addition of 1 wt% of lithium to aluminum, elastic modulus will increase by 6% and the alloy density will decrease by 3% [ 7 , 8 ]. Researchers often find problems with understanding the laws of compression of lithium aluminum alloys that always changes with the production process, work parameters, heat treatment so on.…”

Multiple physical field coupling simulation of high current lithium electrolyzer in industry

“…[2] Lithium is easy to blend with almost any metal to form an alloy, which usually has superior properties. [3,4] Lithium is widely used in many areas, including battery technologies, the aerospace field, metallurgical and nuclear industries, and chemical industries. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In industry, lithium metal is generally prepared by fusion electrolysis, which is composed of potassium chloride and lithium chloride in a ratio of about one to one at temperatures ranging from 400 to 450 C. On the one hand, the preparation of high purity lithium metal requires high purity anhydrous lithium chloride, which is expensive.…”