Al-Li
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Al-Li alloys are a series of alloys of aluminium and lithium, often also including copper and zirconium. Since lithium is the lightest elemental metal, these alloys are significantly lighter than aluminium. Every 1% by weight of lithium added to aluminium reduces the density of the resulting alloy by 3%.[1]
Al-Li alloys are primarily of interest to the aerospace industry, due to their weight advantage. They are currently used in a few commercial jetliner airframes, and the AgustaWestland EH101 helicopter.[2]
The third and, as of 2006, current version of the U.S. Space Shuttle's external tank is principally made of Al-Li.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Metal Web News, The new generation Aluminium Lithium Alloys
- ^ Queen's University Faculty of Applied Science, Aluminium-Lithium Alloys
- ^ NASA, Super Lightweight External Tank
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