The Importance of Material Selection in Aerospace

Worldwide Instrument Parts Company (WIPCO) offers a variety of precision parts and machining services, with solutions available across a variety of industries. If you’re working within the aerospace industry’s strict requirements, our expertise can help you select the right materials for a range of components. Read on to learn more.

Material Selection in Aerospace

The aerospace industry requires high-performance materials that can withstand extreme temperatures and provide sufficient strength. Components must also be long-lasting and fatigue-resistant to maintain consistent reliability.

Another key variable when selecting your materials is weight. Aerospace materials must facilitate fuel efficiency and aerodynamic flight while maintaining high damage and corrosion resistance. They also require greater durability for use in fuselages and other equipment. Otherwise, engine components and other parts may not perform adequately with prolonged exposure to harsh environments.

Wings are a particularly important part of aircraft, requiring superior metal construction with fracture toughness, fatigue resistance, and compressive yield strength.

Material Innovations

Certain innovations in aerospace materials continue to benefit this industry. For example, there has recently been a 20% decrease in the ratio of aluminum construction in aircraft, with other more ideal materials taking aluminum’s place over time. One potential replacement is composite metal foam (CMF), which offers increased durability and toughness with the same lightness. Researchers at North Carolina State University are testing this material for use in aerospace and other applications.

Another promising alternative to aluminum is lightweight carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), which allow for the development of visually appealing panels and other interior components. Meanwhile, more materials may use honeycomb structures for improved strength and durability. Engineers are currently exploring other heat-resistant and lightweight options to replace aluminum.

Materials Used for Aircraft Manufacturing

The following are some of the main types of aerospace materials available for various applications:

• Titanium Alloys. Many aerospace components use fatigue-resistant titanium alloys, which have a high tensile strength and fatigue strength ratio. Some alloys can also resist temperatures as high as 400 to 500 C.
• Steels. While their high density limits their use in aircraft construction, some alloys work for small component castings. In this case, their high stiffness, strength, and damage resistance prove highly useful.
• Aluminum Alloys. Although aerospace applications often seek replacements for aluminum, these alloys are still popular because of their flexibility. Applications may use aluminum with other metals to enhance mechanical properties while maintaining lightness in use.
• Fiber-reinforced Composite Materials. Aircraft could also use fiber-reinforced composites that contain fibrous carbon, glass, or other materials in resinous epoxy or plastic matrices. These materials allow for increased chemical and mechanical protection.

Aerospace Materials from Worldwide Instrument Parts Company

Need high-quality, reliable aerospace materials for components? Worldwide Instrument Parts Co. can help you find the right solution through dependable precision computer numerical control (CNC) machining. We’ll work with you to identify the right material for your application, so you can enjoy optimized performance while protecting key components.

Whether the material is intended for cockpit parts, plane engines, shells, wings, or other parts, you’ll find what you need here at WIPCO.

Contact us today for more information about our products and services. We’ll put you in touch with one of our experts to discuss your aerospace material needs.