Aluminum-lithium alloys: types, properties, application, and production technologies. Overview

The article provides a brief overview of the aluminum industry development in Kazakhstan and the possibility of obtaining high-strength structural aluminum-lithium alloys. The country's enterprises produce aluminum of technical purity and aluminum alloys of low and medium strength of 6060, 6063, 6463, 6082, AK5M2, ADS-12, AD-31, AD-35, which are available materials for the construction industry. In Kazakhstan, there is progressive development of mechanical engineering which requires stronger alloys of 300-400 MPa, and for special engineering (defense, aerospace, and other advanced industries) - strengths above 415 MPa. High-strength structural aluminum alloys are based on Al-Cu-Mg, Al-Zn-Mg-Cu, Al-Li systems. Among these systems, relatively new Al-Li alloys are of great interest, having a great potential for further improvement of characteristics. The Al-Li system alloys with record-high specific strengths, corrosion-resistant, and good welded joints are widely used in the aerospace industry, where they are used for the production of power elements and housings. The article provides an overview of the known aluminum-lithium alloys, as well as the main technological stages of their production.