Products & Services
Copper Alloys
Copper-based alloys are widely used in aircraft engineering where critical components require materials of construction with high strength, good ductility and resistance to corrosion. These components are often safety-critical and long-term reliable operation is a paramount consideration.
Grades includes:
Spinodal Copper Nickel Tin Alloys
Hardiall® is a wrought spinodally hardened copper alloy CuNi15Sn8 (C72900) designed for high strength applications where toughness is required. It is non-magnetic and resists mechanical wear, galling, stress relaxation, corrosion and erosion.
It is easily machined into complex components and is environmentally friendly being both lead and beryllium free.
Lebronze alloys’ manufacturing process for Hardiall® is fully integrated: internal processes include casting, hot and cold working stage, heat treatment and non-destructive testing. Being fully integrated ensures reactivity and complete traceability.
Hardiall® Key Features & Benefits
- High strength & hardness
- Low friction
- Excellent lubricity
- Corrosion & erosion resistant
- Excellent wear resistance
- Excellent machinability
- Excellent galling resistance
- Pitting & spalling resistance
- No hydrogen embrittlement
- Non-magnetic
- High performance at both elevated and sub-zero temperatures -193°F up to 572°F
- Dimensional stability
Hardiall® Physical Properties
Electrical Conductivity at 20°C (68°F)
7.5 %IACS
Thermal Conductivity at 20°C to 200°C (68°F to 392°F)
38 (22) W/m/°C (Btu/ft/hr/°F)
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion at 20°C to 200°C (68°F to 392°F)
16.4 x 10-6 (9.1 x 10-6) Per °C (Per °F)
Density
8.95 (0.323) g/cm3 (lb/in3)
Aerospace Applications
Hardiall® is used within the aerospace industry thanks to its outstanding physical and mechanical properties in many varied components. Lebronze alloys has developed a full range of Hardiall® products matching the stringent needs of the aerospace industry.
Bushings and Bearings for Landing Gear
In landing gear, bushings and bearings are required to operate under severe conditions; they need to be lubricated and replaced frequently causing recurring maintenance downtime. To reduce maintenance costs Hardiall®is used for such applications as it demonstrates excellent lubricity, wear, and galling resistance, thus providing a longer service life and an improved total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to other copper and non-copper alloy materials.
Hardiall® is ideal for applications where the load required exceeds the performance of coppernickel- aluminium based alloys or where lubricity is critical and titanium cannot satisfy the engineer’s requirements.
Other applications include: Landing gear attachments, engine and pylon attachments, flight control mechanisms, doors and hatches.
Hardiall® Products Portfolio
Hardiall® is available in various tempers and grades offering different mechanical properties. The following Hardiall® products are available for the aerospace industry.
Rod
- HARDIALL® TX 90
- HARDIALL® TX 100
- AMS 4596
- HARDIALL® TX 110
- HARDIALL® TS 160U
- AMS 4597
Tube
- AMS 4598
- HARDIALL® TX 110
All products can be ultrasonically tested at LBA upon customer request.
For more information, please click here.
Aluminium Alloys
Aluminium is a highly popular material in the manufacture of aeroplanes due to a combination of low density and high strength properties making it ideal for mass-produced commercial aircraft. Aircraft manufacturers prefer to use high-strength aluminium alloys (primarily alloy 7075) to strengthen aluminium aircraft structures. Aluminium typically comprises around 80 percent of an aircraft’s weight (unloaded) and because it is highly resistant to corrosion, it can be left unpainted.
Grades includes:
- AMS 4342 - 7050
- DTD5014 - 2618A
- L102 T4511
- L111 T6511
- L160 T73511
- L168 T6511
- QQ-A-200/11 - AMS4166 - AMS4168 - AMS4169 - 7075
- QQ-A-200/3 - AMS4164 - AMS4165 - 2024
- QQ-A-200/8 - AMS4150 - AMS4173 -6061
- QQ-A-225/6 T351 - AMS 4120 - 2024 Alloy
- QQ-A-225/8 - AMS4117 - 6061 Alloy
- QQ-A-225/9 - AMS4124 - 7075 Alloy
Stainless Steel
Steel can be up to three times stronger than aluminium, although it is also heavier. It’s strength, hardness and resistance to heat make it ideal for use on the skin surface of the aircraft and in the landing gear and it typically comprises around 11-13% of the materials used in an aircraft. The durability of steel is its most important characteristic in aeroplane manufacture and although it is heavier than other materials like aluminium it is often used for hinges, cable and fasteners where its strength is key.
Grades includes:
Bearing Steel
Bearing applications (ball screw bearings and nuts) require high hardness and corrosion resistance under different surroundings and temperatures, coupled with high strength, corrosion resistance and hardness obtained through low temperature heat treatment. In aerospace, such applications typically include crankshafts, landing gear, valves and axle shaft parts which are exposed to high stress under severe conditions i.e. where good rolling contact fatigue strength is required.
Grades includes:
Titanium
Although expensive, titanium is commonly used in aircraft manufacture due to its excellent properties including high strength, high temperature resistance and high corrosion resistance. Titanium is commonly used in a variety of different parts on an aircraft both on the exterior and in the engine. It can be found in the wings and landing gear as well as the housing, fan blades and pumps within the engine. As titanium becomes more widely used the cost is expected to drop which would make it the metal of choice in the aerospace industry. Presently, the costs associated with titanium mean it is not feasible to use for widespread use throughout the aircraft.
Grades includes:
Nickel Alloys
Nickel alloys are popular in aerospace engineering due to their ability to resist high temperatures and corrosion – they are structurally tough and have fantastic creep resistance properties. They are often used to make the turbines of aeroplane engines due to the immense heat this part of the engine is exposed to. Because nickel alloys retain their strength at elevated temperatures they are perfect for this function. In addition to this, you can find nickel alloys in the exhaust valves, thermostat rods, tanks and piping for liquefied gas storage.
Aerospace & defence are major end-user industries of nickel alloys. Nickel alloys are used to manufacture various components of aircraft engines, due to its superior properties compared to other materials like steel and stainless steel. The global aerospace industry is growing at a significant pace, due to increase in the passenger air travel. This increase will directly influence the growth of the nickel alloys market, as nickel alloys are used to manufacture airplane engine components, turbine blades, and others.
Grades includes:
Specialty Alloys
These speciality alloys are largely upgrades of conventional stainless steels and high strength alloy steels that can no longer meet the more demanding requirements of critical applications that continue to grow in number and variety. An alloy is generally considered a high strength stainless steel when it meets several key requirements. First, it must have an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 225 ksi (1550 MPa) or more, and a minimum yield strength (YS) of 200 ksi (1378 MPa). Tensile ductility must be good, with a minimum 10% elongation preferred.
Aerospace & defence are major end-user industries of nickel alloys. Nickel alloys are used to manufacture various components of aircraft engines, due to its superior properties compared to other materials like steel and stainless steel. The global aerospace industry is growing at a significant pace, due to increase in the passenger air travel. This increase will directly influence the growth of the nickel alloys market, as nickel alloys are used to manufacture airplane engine components, turbine blades, and others.
Grades includes:
- Hy-Tuf / AMS 6425
- MP35N - AMS5844 / AMS5845 / AMS5758
- AMS 4596, 4597, 4598
