(1. AECC Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, Beijing 100095, China)(2. Beijing Engineering Research Center of Advanced Aluminum Alloys and Applications, Beijing 100095, China)
Aluminum alloy is a very important structure material, which accounts for 40% to 70% weight of the aircraft structures. Aluminum alloy is widely used in the main bearing frame, beam, wing siding, skin and other parts of the aircraft. In the initial application, only static strength is required, and then expanding to the comprehensive performance requirements such as corrosion resistance, high strength and toughness, damage resistance, etc. Aeronautical aluminum alloys have been developed to the fifth generation due to the demand-driving and rapid technological advancement in recent decades. In this paper, the development of aeronautical aluminum alloys is briefly reviewed. Research hotspots and latest progress at home during the whole fabrication process of aeronautical aluminum alloys, such as composition design, smelting and casting, thermal deformation and heat treatment, are introduced and discussed synthetically. Finally, based on these discussions, the development trend and prospect of aeronautical aluminum alloys in China are proposed.