Understanding Aluminium Alloy 7050 Sheets and Their Prevalence in Marine Use
Aluminum alloy 7050 has become an increasingly prevalent material when it comes to marine applications, due to its intriguing combination of characteristics - some of which it shares with other materials such as AA 2014-T4. In this blog, we at Kalapurna explore the diverse characteristics of Aluminum alloy 7050 that make it such a popular option in marine applications.
What is Aluminum Alloy 7050?
Copper, zinc, magnesium and aluminum are the main materials that make up Alloy 7050, a metal that boasts immense strength-to-weight ratio. The material is simply one among a wide array of incredibly strong aluminum alloys, and it offers a plethora of uses in several applications thanks to its diverse features and characteristics.
Characteristics of Aluminum Alloy 7050
Strength
Among the leading features of Alloy 7050 that makes it such a popular material for different uses is its impressive strength. Thanks to this highly advantageous feature, 7050 has proven to be a very commonly found metal in marine works, an area where it would have to bear heavy loads and undergo substantial pressure. As a matter of fact, the material boasts a remarkable tensile strength of up to around 538 mpA.
Resistance to Corrosion
Along with its notable strength, aluminum alloy 7050 also showcases an astonishing resilience against corrosive elements. This is another characteristic that becomes particularly helpful in the marine world, where the material gets exposed to saltwater and excessive moisture, as well as receiving any necessary coatings.
Lightweight
As mentioned earlier, while it is an incredibly strong metal, aluminum alloy 7050 remains very lightweight. In situations where you need structures and vessels to maintain a certain weight limit, then this becomes a vital feature in marine design and engineering.
Resistance to Fatigue
Another feature where aluminum 7050 impresses is its fatigue resistance, which refers to the material not breaking down over time having undergone differing levels of weight.
Weldability
Aluminum alloy 7050 also stands out when one considers its usability when it comes to welding, making it an appealing option with regards to fabricating as well as maintaining and reparations in the marine industry.
Marine Applications of Aluminum Alloy 7050
Boat Building
Among the foremost applications of aluminum alloy 7050 in the marine industry is in the construction of boats. This is due to the material’s lightweight nature as well as its tensile strength and fatigue resistance - contributing in the building of boats that are both durable and efficient.
Containment Units
7050 aluminum alloy is not just used in the construction of the vessels, but it's also used in building containers and cargo handling equipment that the vessels carry. The material is used for such purposes thanks to its remarkable strength to weight ratio.
Vessel Components
Another common application of 7050 in the marine industry is in the building of various components of ships, which includes parts such as decks, bulkheads, and structural frame components. The metal’s resistance to corrosion as well as its impressive strength make it an ideal material for such applications.
Offshore Structure
Aluminum 7050 is also a commonly found material when it comes to the building of offshore structures such as offshore drilling rigs and production platforms. While materials such as AA 2014-T651 are used for smaller drilling components, 7050 is used in building whole offshore drilling platforms. This is because of the fact that such structures would mainly need to be built out of materials that are capable of enduring the hostile environment that is brought about by the surrounding sea.
Marine Architecture
One of the less popularly known applications of 7050 is in the architectural elements of cruise ships as well as yachts and other recreational vessels as well as coastal structures. It is particularly appealing for this application due to its aesthetic appeal as well as its impressive durability and toughness.
Safety Equipment
A notable use of aluminum 7050 is in the construction of various marine safety equipment such as life boats, emergency rafts, as well as components such as safety rails. The material is used in the construction of these components due to its tensile strength as well as its resistance to corrosion, since such safety equipment will no doubt be exposed to saltwater and extreme conditions.
Vessel Flooring and Decks
Among the other uses of the material is in the flooring as well as the decks of vessels, which are a component that would require to be made with materials that can take substantial weight, while also being resistant to corrosive elements such as saltwater.
Conclusion
Aluminum alloy 7050 possesses quite a useful set of characteristics that make it an ideal material when it comes to marine applications, along with its uses in industries such as aerospace systems as well as engineering. The material towers over other alloys such as AA 2014-T6, which has very niche uses in the marine field. While the demands of the marine industry continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, Aluminum alloy 7050 remains an ever reliable material for a range of purposes.