Preserving Aviation Heritage: The Need for an Approach Based on Materials Analysis

International audienceMost of the metals used in aircraft construction are aluminium alloys. These alloys, poorly investigated for conservation purposes, require specific characterisation due to the presence of intermetallic precipitates at various length scales influencing mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion, and because of different surface treatments. This study undertook an investigation into the different aluminium alloy parts of a currently renovated Breguet aircraft and, as a result, revealed the need to research and characterise these materials. An adapted methodological approach was used and the results of the materials characterisation focused on the main materials and on the corroded surfaces. Alongside performing material analysis, archival documents were used to provide additional and complementary historical data. From this, it was concluded that a specific understanding of the alteration processes in aluminium alloys is required in order to develop conservation strategies