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Aluminium Scandium Alloy (Al-Sc) is a high-performance metallic material celebrated for its exceptional strength, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability. Typically containing 0.1-3% scandium (with trace elements like zirconium or magnesium), this alloy offers a density of 2.7-2.8 g/cm³ and a yield strength of 250-500 MPa, depending on composition. Its unique ability to form fine precipitates and inhibit grain growth makes it indispensable in weight-sensitive structural components for aerospace, automotive, and sports equipment.
Grain Refinement:Scandium promotes the formation of stable Al₃Sc precipitates during aluminum solidification, dramatically reducing average grain size from 100 μm to less than 10 μm. This microstructural refinement significantly enhances tensile strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance, making it ideal for high-performance aerospace, automotive, and structural applications where mechanical reliability is critical.
Thermal Stability:Scandium-aluminum alloys maintain exceptional mechanical properties at elevated temperatures up to 300°C, far surpassing conventional aluminum alloys that typically degrade above 150°C. This thermal stability ensures consistent performance in aerospace components, automotive engine parts, and industrial machinery operating under extreme heat or prolonged thermal cycling conditions.
Corrosion Resistance:The formation of a dense, protective Al₂O₃-Sc₂O₃ oxide layer provides outstanding corrosion resistance. This layer shields the alloy from oxidation and chemical attack, ensuring long-term durability and reliability in marine environments, high-humidity atmospheres, and other harsh conditions, making it suitable for critical structural and marine applications.
Weldability:Scandium-enhanced aluminum exhibits a low tendency for hot cracking during welding, enabling complex designs and assemblies without compromising structural integrity. This property allows engineers to fabricate intricate aircraft fuselages, automotive frames, and lightweight structural components efficiently, reducing production challenges while maintaining high strength and performance.
Weight Efficiency:Offering a strength-to-weight ratio approximately 20% higher than 6061-T6 aluminum, scandium-aluminum alloys provide superior weight efficiency. This characteristic is essential for aerospace and automotive industries, where reducing fuel consumption and improving energy efficiency are critical, while maintaining high mechanical strength and structural safety standards.
Aerospace Structures: Used in wing skins, fuselage panels, and landing gear components for commercial aircraft (e.g., Boeing 787), reducing component weight by 15% while increasing service life.
Automotive Components: Forms high-strength, lightweight parts like engine mounts, suspension arms, and battery enclosures, improving fuel efficiency and crash resistance.
Sports Equipment: Manufactures premium bicycle frames, golf clubs, and baseball bats, combining stiffness, durability, and corrosion resistance for elite-level performance.
Defense Applications: Ideal for armored vehicle hulls and missile components, resisting ballistic impacts and extreme temperatures in combat environments.
Research & Development: Serves as a model alloy for studying precipitate strengthening mechanisms and as a precursor for additive manufacturing feedstocks in 3D printing.
Q: What is the optimal scandium content for different applications?
A: Low-scandium alloys (0.1-0.5%) are used for corrosion resistance, while high-scandium alloys (1-3%) prioritize strength for aerospace and defense.
Q: How does Al-Sc alloy compare to titanium in weight and strength?
A: It is 40% lighter than titanium with comparable strength, making it preferable for non-high-temperature structural applications.
Q: Can it be used in cryogenic environments?
A: Yes, it retains ductility and impact resistance down to -200°C, suitable for liquid hydrogen storage tanks in space launch vehicles.
Q: What is the primary challenge in producing Al-Sc alloy?
A: Scandium's high cost and low natural abundance require specialized melting techniques (e.g., vacuum induction melting) to ensure uniform distribution.
Q: Is there a recycling process for Al-Sc alloy scrap?
A: Yes, recycling retains 95% of scandium content through molten salt electrolysis, supporting circular economy initiatives in high-tech manufacturing.
Material name | Aluminium Scandium Alloy |
Other Name | Aluminum scandium metal, AlSc alloy |
Formula | Al-Sc |
Content | Al is the main one, Sc can be 2%~20%. |
Appearance | Silver grey ingot or lump, or other customized size |

Aluminium Scandium Alloy (Al-Sc) is a high-performance metallic material celebrated for its exceptional strength, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability. Typically containing 0.1-3% scandium (with trace elements like zirconium or magnesium), this alloy offers a density of 2.7-2.8 g/cm³ and a yield strength of 250-500 MPa, depending on composition. Its unique ability to form fine precipitates and inhibit grain growth makes it indispensable in weight-sensitive structural components for aerospace, automotive, and sports equipment.
Grain Refinement:Scandium promotes the formation of stable Al₃Sc precipitates during aluminum solidification, dramatically reducing average grain size from 100 μm to less than 10 μm. This microstructural refinement significantly enhances tensile strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance, making it ideal for high-performance aerospace, automotive, and structural applications where mechanical reliability is critical.
Thermal Stability:Scandium-aluminum alloys maintain exceptional mechanical properties at elevated temperatures up to 300°C, far surpassing conventional aluminum alloys that typically degrade above 150°C. This thermal stability ensures consistent performance in aerospace components, automotive engine parts, and industrial machinery operating under extreme heat or prolonged thermal cycling conditions.
Corrosion Resistance:The formation of a dense, protective Al₂O₃-Sc₂O₃ oxide layer provides outstanding corrosion resistance. This layer shields the alloy from oxidation and chemical attack, ensuring long-term durability and reliability in marine environments, high-humidity atmospheres, and other harsh conditions, making it suitable for critical structural and marine applications.
Weldability:Scandium-enhanced aluminum exhibits a low tendency for hot cracking during welding, enabling complex designs and assemblies without compromising structural integrity. This property allows engineers to fabricate intricate aircraft fuselages, automotive frames, and lightweight structural components efficiently, reducing production challenges while maintaining high strength and performance.
Weight Efficiency:Offering a strength-to-weight ratio approximately 20% higher than 6061-T6 aluminum, scandium-aluminum alloys provide superior weight efficiency. This characteristic is essential for aerospace and automotive industries, where reducing fuel consumption and improving energy efficiency are critical, while maintaining high mechanical strength and structural safety standards.
Aerospace Structures: Used in wing skins, fuselage panels, and landing gear components for commercial aircraft (e.g., Boeing 787), reducing component weight by 15% while increasing service life.
Automotive Components: Forms high-strength, lightweight parts like engine mounts, suspension arms, and battery enclosures, improving fuel efficiency and crash resistance.
Sports Equipment: Manufactures premium bicycle frames, golf clubs, and baseball bats, combining stiffness, durability, and corrosion resistance for elite-level performance.
Defense Applications: Ideal for armored vehicle hulls and missile components, resisting ballistic impacts and extreme temperatures in combat environments.
Research & Development: Serves as a model alloy for studying precipitate strengthening mechanisms and as a precursor for additive manufacturing feedstocks in 3D printing.
Q: What is the optimal scandium content for different applications?
A: Low-scandium alloys (0.1-0.5%) are used for corrosion resistance, while high-scandium alloys (1-3%) prioritize strength for aerospace and defense.
Q: How does Al-Sc alloy compare to titanium in weight and strength?
A: It is 40% lighter than titanium with comparable strength, making it preferable for non-high-temperature structural applications.
Q: Can it be used in cryogenic environments?
A: Yes, it retains ductility and impact resistance down to -200°C, suitable for liquid hydrogen storage tanks in space launch vehicles.
Q: What is the primary challenge in producing Al-Sc alloy?
A: Scandium's high cost and low natural abundance require specialized melting techniques (e.g., vacuum induction melting) to ensure uniform distribution.
Q: Is there a recycling process for Al-Sc alloy scrap?
A: Yes, recycling retains 95% of scandium content through molten salt electrolysis, supporting circular economy initiatives in high-tech manufacturing.
Material name | Aluminium Scandium Alloy |
Other Name | Aluminum scandium metal, AlSc alloy |
Formula | Al-Sc |
Content | Al is the main one, Sc can be 2%~20%. |
Appearance | Silver grey ingot or lump, or other customized size |
