THE PHYSICAL METALLURGY OF ALUMINIUM-LITHIUM-COPPER-MAGNESIUM-ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS-8090 AND 8091

Aluminium alloys containing up to 3wt% lithium and cast using an ingot metallurgy route are currently being developed for aerospace applications. The objective of this paper is to review the current status of the metallurgical understanding of these alloys. Particular emphasis is placed on the alloy system Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr, which includes the alloys 8090 and 8090 developed in the United Kingdom by the Royal Aircraft Establishment and Alcan. Comparison is made with other alloy systems, where appropriate, e.g. Al-Li, Al-Li-Mg, Al-Cu-Li