Materials Research at Alcoa
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se of materials and their processing. This expansion of knowledge is occurring at Alcoa in virtually every dimension required to produce the products of the future in transportation, aerospace, defense, building, construction, electronics, electrical transmission, communication, packaging, and other applications. At the core of the integrated technical world being developed is Alcoa's materials science base. Alcoa scientists are acquiring fundamental understandings of the characteristics and behavior of a wide range of metal-based, ceramic and polymeric materials. This knowledge is the linchpin that provides the capability to not only develop new materials, but enable the characterization of the properties and performance of each material as well. In addition, engineering design criteria and capabilities are being established for each mate rial under investigation. By combining that data with a thorough understanding of ultimate product applications, Alcoa researchers are designing and developing a number of materials tailored for specific applications. Further, new test methods are being developed to evaluate these materials and predict service life. Some of the more prominent materials research programs are highlighted here.
Metals New metallurgical reactions and new methods for the study of microstructures are being explored. In addition, fundamental information is being acquired that can guide new aluminum and other materials development programs. While much of this work is on understanding fundamental mechanisms valuable in a number of projects, several specific items have direct implications on either existing products or new materials thrusts, such as controlling texture-anisotropy in rigid container sheet and developing magnesium-based and dual-phase Zn-AI alloys. Aluminum-lithium alloys being developed for aerospace applications will replace standard alloys, offering density reductions of 7-12%. This entails development and commercialization of a suite of 11 alloys/ products intended to be directly substitutable for existing aluminum alloys 2024T6, 7075-T6X, 7075-T73X, and a minimum density product. The development of subsequent generations of alloys/products is under way as is emphasis on developing superplastic forming capabilities of Al-Li sheet. Also under development is a process to develop extreme purity silicon with a purity Continued
Alithalite alloy 2090 is being tested and evaluated by the aerospace industry. Compared to the alloy it is intended to replace (7075-T6), 2090 provides a 7% density reduction, with increased strength and stiffness.
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t a r g e t of s e m i c o n d u c t o r g r a d e , using stage crystallization a n d / o r reactive gas fluxing. In a d d i t i o n , t h e feasibility of p r o d u c i n g e x t r e m e p u r i t y (99.999%) a l u m i n u m possessing low U and T h is being d e m o n s t r a t e d . H o o p e s m e t a l is p r o c e s s e d t h r o u g h a specialized crystallization unit to p r o d u c e t h e e x t r e m
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