Krasnoyarsk scientists have launched special alloy production for aviation.
05 July 2023
Ultra-strong aluminum for aircraft. Krasnoyarsk scientists have launched production of a special alloy for aviation. This metal is lighter than its counterparts. How was this achieved?
Aluminum slowly flows into a special mold—the so-called ingot mold. This metal is prepared for aviation. Therefore, the chemical composition is modified: iron, magnesium, or zinc are added to the alloy.
Maxim Khatsayuk, head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at SFU: "We retain all the advantages of aluminum—weight, for example. But at the same time, we improve its physical and mechanical properties. Simply put, strength."
These parameters are ideal for mechanical engineering, where weight is a concern. The metal will become rivets for aircraft or new electrical wiring. Such materials will make the aircraft lighter, thereby increasing its load-bearing capacity. However, at this stage, the ingot does not reach the customer's workshop. The aluminum will be melted again in an equally important apparatus.
From the dispenser tray, it enters the heart of the system—the electromagnetic crystallizer. Here, the liquid metal is compressed by an electromagnetic field. Water and molding transform it into wire. It's impossible to spy on the technology. To avoid buying equipment abroad, Krasnoyarsk experts immersed themselves in mathematical modeling.
Eduard Winter, a research and teaching fellow at the Department of Electrical Engineering at SFU: "We will theoretically and through calculations determine the operating modes and parameters of the facility. We will also study the technology's specifics. We will also observe how the technology will perform with experimental alloys."
This alloy isn't produced by large factories; it can't be produced using traditional casting methods. It can only be produced using powder metallurgy, which is several times more expensive. Furthermore, the finished aluminum undergoes strength testing, among other things.
Ingot samples from the workshop are sent to the laboratory. Their chemical composition is tested using a spectrometer. The results are displayed on a computer monitor. If they don't meet the standard, the materials are sent back for revision.
But experts call aircraft-grade aluminum a semi-finished product. Once at the factory, machine builders will find the necessary use for it.
