The History of Aluminum Alloys for Ships
Aluminum alloy has been used on ships since 1891. After nearly a hundred years of research and development, they have become more and more widely used in ships and have become a promising material for the shipbuilding industry.
In the 1930s, 6061-T6 aluminum alloy was used to construct the hull by riveting. In the 1940s, weldable and corrosion-resistant aluminum-magnesium alloys were developed. TIG welding technology was adopted in the 1950s.
In the 1960s, the U.S. Navy developed successively 5086-H32 and 5456-H321 alloy plates, 5086 H111 aluminum alloy and 5456-H111 aluminum alloy extruded profiles, eliminating the intergranular precipitation and the problems of spalling and intergranular corrosion.
In the 1930s, with the development of the metallurgical profession, aluminum-magnesium alloys with better mechanical properties appeared. In 1931, the British made the aluminum-magnesium alloy "Diana2" yacht.
In the 1950s and 1960s, aluminum welding technology began to appear, and the United States developed 5086 and 5456 aluminum alloy plates and profiles. From 1966 to 1971, the United States built 14 aluminum "Asiville" Class high-speed speedboat by using 5086 aluminum plate.
In recent years, due to the intensification of energy shortages and the increasing global environmental protection movement, the lightweight of ships and the requirements for the recycling of alloy materials have led to further development of aluminum alloys in practical applications.
Due to the low density, high specific strength, non-magnetic, high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, at present, aluminum alloy has been widely used in small and medium passenger ships, yachts, speedboats, high-speed ,missile boats, patrol boats, destroyers,etc.
The main alloy elements of marine grade aluminum 5086 are magnesium and silicon. The product has high corrosion resistance, good weldability, and medium strength. It is used in the manufacture of sheet metal parts for transportation vehicles and ships, meters, hardware products and electrical enclosures.
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