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Al-Li

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Al-Li alloys are a series of alloys of aluminium and lithium, often also including copper and zirconium. Since lithium is the lightest elemental metal, these alloys are significantly lighter than aluminium. Every 1% by weight of lithium added to aluminium reduces the density of the resulting alloy by 3%.<ref>Metal Web News, The new generation Aluminium Lithium Alloys</ref>

Al-Li alloys are primarily of interest to the aerospace industry, due to their weight advantage. They are currently used in a few commercial jetliner airframes, and the AgustaWestland EH101 helicopter.<ref>Queen's University Faculty of Applied Science, Aluminium-Lithium Alloys</ref>

The third and, as of 2006, current version of the U.S. Space Shuttle's external tank is principally made of Al-Li.<ref>NASA, Super Lightweight External Tank</ref>

[edit] See also

Aluminium alloy

[edit] References

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