Development of an alternative route by solid state processing for recycling the containing lithium aluminum alloy AA2050

• Grant number: 14/07735-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Transformation Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Kátia Regina Cardoso
• Grantee: Kátia Regina Cardoso
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Dilermando Nagle Travessa

Abstract

Aluminum alloys containing lithium from the called 3rd generation have great potential for applications in the aerospace industry due to features such as lower density, higher elastic modulus and fatigue resistance superior to the conventional alloys of 2XXX and 7XXX series. However, the application of these alloys in new projects demand the search for solutions to some negative aspects associated with its use as the high cost and the need for a dedicated system of waste and chips management for recycling. The conventional recycling processes involving melting scrap have restrictions on processing of Li containing alloys due to their high reactivity with the atmosphere and with furnace refractory materials, besides their low vapor pressure leads to volatilization during melting and loss of lithium content. This project aims to develop a route for recycling chips of aluminum-lithium alloys, of aeronautical grade and with high commercial value, resulting in a product with the same characteristics and properties that of original alloy. This route is based on powder metallurgy in which the main steps, grinding and consolidating by hot extrusion, occur in the solid state resulting in a process that minimizes the problem of loss of Li, with its retention in the alloy. Chips of AA2050 aluminum alloy ceded by Embraer, containing about 1 wt% Li , will be used to develop this project. (AU)