July 2009 – Touchstone Receives DoD Award for Development of Multi-Layer Approach for Corrosion Resistance of Aircraft Aluminum Alloys

The objective of this study is to develop an alternate production practice for high-strength aircraft aluminum alloys via an experimental layering process in order to enhance stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance. The basic operational processing procedure is to produce aluminum through roll bonding of a composite of several layers of standard material such that the grain shape/orientation alternates through the through-thickness plane of the finished plate.

It is known that stress-corrosion cracking will propagate when tensile load is present in the short-transverse direction and to some degree in the long transverse direction. The intent of this investigation will be to determine whether a layering of previously processed aircraft plate in different orientations can result in a microstructure that will inhibit the progress of SCC damage through the thickness plane of the plate material. The experiment will compare standard process aircraft alloys, cross-rolled aircraft material, and layered material produced from standard un-clad aircraft plate.

For nearly two decades, and with over 900 individual projects completed to date, Touchstone has been conducting aluminum alloy research, testing, failure analysis and supporting commercial product development in the aerospace, automotive and other industries.

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