The Use of Improved Corrosion Resistant Aluminum Alloy 6013 on the Navy's P-7A Aircraft

The Navy's new long-range air anti-submarine warfare capable aircraft identified as the P-7A will use advanced aluminum alloys in almost all of the aircraft structure. Lockheed, the prime contractor of the P-7A, will use the new corrosion resistant aluminum alloy 6013 for the plane's fuselage skin and other formed parts.

Lockheed will replace the traditional fuselage alloy, alclad 2024 with bare 6013 that will be chemically filmed, primed and painted with colors selected by the Navy. Alloy 6013 provides improved corrosion protection for the P-7A while maintaining similar mechanical properties of alclad 2024.

The paper will describe the history of the alloy and reasons for using 6013 on the P-7A. Also detailed will be results of extensive corrosion testing, finishing mechanisms and the effect of finishes on mechanical properties.