Aluminium alloys have been the predominant choice of material used in the construction of civil and military aircraft since World War II. They are, however, subject to competition from other materials, particularly titanium and carbon fibre reinforced composite. Some of the developments that have occurred with conventional alloys are considered and the limitations to further exploitation are defined in terms of availability, cost, structural efficiency, and compatibility with existing manufacturing technology. Some new prospects for aluminium-base materials are considered, including conventional alloys, metal matrix composites, and powder alloys.
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