IN this paper a few of the many materials problems facing engineers in the aircraft field are discussed.
Factors involved in these problems include speed of the vehicle, temperature, altitude at which the plane or missiles will operate, noise and its accompanying vibration, deteriorative chemicals of fuels and fluids, and the use of nuclear power and radiation.
The author describes several new tools of technology in melting, shaping, and joining such as levitation melting, extrusion-molding, ultrasonic welding, and an inert-gas room for fabrication of refractory metals. Also, he discusses the nature and philosophy of developments in light nonfer-rous metals, Thermenol, superhigh-strength and high-temperature materials, as well as related aspects of nonmetallic structural materials and the functional components such as transparents, elastomers, and lubricants.
The importance of designing and synthesizing materials specifically to meet complex requirements is emphasized, an invaluable approach being composites (heterogeneous combinations).