Applications of an aluminum-beryllium composite for structural aerospace components

The use of AlBeMet AM162, an aluminum-beryllium metal matrix composite, is an effective way to reduce the size and weight of many structural aerospace components that are currently made out of aluminum and titanium alloys. These savings. which are essential for today's technologies, are primarily due to the material's high modulus and low density combined with its better than average specific strength. The raw material costs are significantly higher than they are for traditional engineering alloys, and the available billet sizes are more limited than they are for aluminum and titanium alloys. Although the material costs are higher for the aluminum-beryllium composite, ease of machining makes it financially competitive when compared to equivalent parts made out of titanium alloys. Due to toxic nature of beryllium, however, debris-generating operations must be strictly regulated to limit worker's exposure to the material and protect them from potentially fatal diseases. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.