7050 T74 Aluminum
7050 T74 aluminum alloy is a high-strength, excellent corrosion-resistant, and good fracture toughness aerospace material, widely used in aircraft structural components, especially suitable for applications under high stress and harsh environments.
7050-T74 aluminum alloy is a high-strength, corrosion-resistant aerospace aluminum alloy, widely used in aircraft structural components, especially in applications requiring high strength and good corrosion resistance. After heat treatment to the T74 condition, 7050 aluminum alloy achieves a balance of tensile strength, stress corrosion resistance, exfoliation corrosion resistance, and fracture toughness, making it highly applicable in the aerospace field.
7050 T74 Aluminum Material Composition and Heat Treatment
7050 aluminum alloy is an aluminum-zinc-based alloy with a high zinc (Zn) content, and its strength and corrosion resistance are enhanced by appropriate alloying elements such as copper, magnesium, and manganese. To achieve the T74 condition, 7050 aluminum first undergoes solution heat treatment, followed by an artificial aging process to improve strength and stability.
The T74 condition is achieved through a special aging process, ensuring that the aluminum alloy maintains high tensile strength while achieving a good balance in corrosion resistance and fracture toughness. The goal is to optimize the alloy’s strength and ductility while improving its stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and exfoliation corrosion resistance, making it especially suitable for applications with stringent requirements for strength and corrosion resistance.
7050 T74 Aluminum Mechanical Properties
- Tensile Strength: 7050-T74 aluminum alloy has very high tensile strength, allowing it to withstand significant tensile forces in aircraft structural parts, aerospace hubs, and other stressed components.
- Yield Strength: It has a relatively high yield strength, enabling it to maintain stable deformation under large stresses.
- Ductility: Despite its high strength, 7050-T74 aluminum alloy has relatively low ductility, typically exhibiting a low elongation rate.
- Fracture Toughness: The fracture toughness of 7050-T74 in the T74 condition is outstanding, allowing it to withstand significant impacts and loads while maintaining good toughness even in low-temperature environments.
- Fatigue Strength: Under alternating stresses, 7050-T74 aluminum alloy exhibits excellent fatigue resistance, making it suitable for applications with high dynamic loads.
7050 T74 Aluminum Corrosion Resistance
7050-T74 aluminum alloy pays special attention to corrosion resistance, particularly in stress corrosion cracking and exfoliation corrosion. Its corrosion resistance is outstanding compared to similar aluminum alloys, making it especially suitable for applications exposed to harsh environments over long periods.
- Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) Resistance: 7050-T74 demonstrates very high resistance to stress corrosion cracking, making it suitable for long-term exposure to humid or chlorinated environments.
- Exfoliation Corrosion Resistance: This material also has high exfoliation corrosion resistance, allowing it to maintain a longer service life in marine climates and other harsh environments.
7050 T74 Aluminum Mechanical Properties
| Property | 7050-T74 Aluminum |
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus (GPa) | 70 |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 4.5 |
| Fatigue Strength (MPa) | 160 |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.32 |
| Shear Modulus (GPa) | 26 |
| Shear Strength (MPa) | 310 |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS, MPa) | 530 |
| Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof, MPa) | 440 |
Chemical Composition of 7050 Aluminum
| Element | Mass Fraction % |
| Aluminum | 86.4-90.0 |
| Zinc | 6.0-7.0 |
| Magnesium | 2.1-2.9 |
| Copper | 1.4-2.0 |
| Manganese | ≤0.10 |
| Chromium | ≤0.04 |
| Titanium | ≤0.06 |
| Germanium | ≤0.06 |
| Strontium | ≤0.03 |
| Any other single impurity | ≤0.05 |
| Total impurities | ≤0.15 |
7050 T74 Aluminum Applications
7050-T74 aluminum alloy is widely used in the aerospace industry, especially for structural components that require high strength and excellent corrosion resistance.
- Aircraft fuselage and wing structures: Due to its excellent strength and corrosion resistance, 7050-T74 is commonly used in aerospace structural components, such as wing beams, skin, and frames.
- Primary load-bearing components of aircraft: For example, the fuselage frame and landing gear brackets of the aircraft.
- Military aviation applications: Due to its high fracture toughness and corrosion resistance, 7050-T74 is often used in military aircraft and their load-bearing structural components.
Furthermore, 7050-T74 aluminum alloy has an irreplaceable advantage in structural components that require extremely high performance, such as support components in high-stress areas and load-bearing components.
7050 T74 Aluminum Workability
Despite the high strength and corrosion resistance of 7050-T74 aluminum alloy, its workability is relatively low, especially when it is in a higher hardness condition. Machining operations such as cutting, milling, and drilling require specialized tools. Its weldability is also limited, typically requiring special welding techniques to maintain its performance stability.
7050-T74 aluminum alloy is a material suitable for applications that require extremely high strength, good fracture toughness, and outstanding corrosion resistance, especially in high-strength aerospace structures. The T74 aging treatment of this alloy allows it to exhibit ideal performance in a variety of engineering applications, making it particularly suitable for environments exposed to harsh conditions and high-load applications.
