Comparison of aluminium alloys from aircraft of four nations involved in WWII conflict using multiscale analyses and archival study
Résumé
Aluminium alloys are very interesting witnesses of the industrial and technical developments; the first ever been developed is Duralumin, a light metal with good mechanical properties . In the 1930s, the rise of nationalism stimulated R&D, generating various aluminium alloys.
This work focuses on two versions of aluminium alloys, collected from crashed WWII fighters: P51 Mustang(US), Dewoitine D520 (FR), Messerschmitt Bf109 (DE), and Lancaster (UK). The first version with magnesium content below or equal to 1wt% and the second with higher magnesium content (1.5wt% ), were identified as 17S, 24S in the US; Duralumin, Duralumin FR in France ; AlCuMg1, AlCuMg2 in Germany and Hiduminium DU Brand, Hiduminium 72 in the UK.
This study uses a multiscale approach and historical research complimented by analyses, allows a comparison and a better knowledge of the alloys used in each nations: their chemical composition, designations, microstructure, & mechanical properties.
This work helps documenting collections exhibited in the Museum Aeroscopia in Toulouse. It could help create a database on materials used in ancient aircraft. It is also useful to a wider audience: curators working on the conservation or restoration of aircraft from that time.
The evolution of the materials over time will be studied to assess if the war had an impact on the use of material, and if there were any shortages involving significant changes in the alloys composition. Eventually, this work is the first step towards evaluating the impact of the materials and their development on the performances of the aircrafts.