BLACK LABORATORIES LLC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: Al-Li alloys are of interest for use in aerospace structures due to the desirable combinat

BLACK LABORATORIES LLC — SBIR Phase I award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Amount
$80,005
Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Program / Phase
SBIR · Phase I
NAICS
Place of performance
VA
Period
2011-02-18 → 2011-09-29

Description

Al-Li alloys are of interest for use in aerospace structures due to the desirable combination of high strength and low density. However, high strength Al-Li alloys exhibit an intergranular delamination fracture mode which has limited widespread structural applications. Previous work at NASA LaRC, under limited testing, found that the failures tend to be between grains of the two Brass texture component variants. Taylor Factor calculations show these to have severe strain incompatibility. These grain orientations are known to develop as a preferred orientation in Al-Li-X-Zr alloys during severe, hot rolling. This program will verify the results and work with Industry to develop an alternative, delamination-free process.