Aerospace Aluminum Parts

The two most prominent reasons aluminum is so indispensible to the aerospace industry have already been mentioned. As one of the metals with the highest strength to weight ratio, it’s value to the aerospace industry is obvious. Airframes must be strong and durable enough to withstand the stresses of takeoffs and landings over time. At the same time, if the metal is too heavy, this will require more fuel to be consumed during flights. This means that aluminum is often the most cost-effective choice for aircraft.

Strength and weight are not the only advantages of aluminum; another major benefit of aluminum alloys is their corrosion resistance. This is a major factor in the durability of an aircraft. Airplanes are constantly subject to the elements and regularly experience climactic extremes; freezing temperatures found at high altitudes and exposure to all sorts of precipitation, including snow and rainstorms. Aluminum is famous for its ability to withstand environmental corrosion.

Furthermore, aluminum also happens to be extremely formable. This is a blessing for the aircraft industry, which requires a high degree of precision to ensure maximum aerodynamics, not to mention all of the small parts that can be found on aircraft. Aluminum’s ease in fabrication and machining makes it another area in which it offers cost savings over alternative materials.

Aluminum is also aesthetically pleasing; while this is not the most important consideration, it doesn’t hurt since no one wants to fly in a vehicle that isn’t visually attractive (with perhaps the Millennium Falcon as the only exception).

It’s been estimated that 80% of all metal content in aircraft today is aluminum; it’s easy to see why.