Scientists have developed a new alloy that is one of the strongest copper-based materials ever created. Due to its unique properties, this material is stronger than steel and can become the basis for the manufacture of advanced aircraft and spacecraft, informs Live Science.
The new alloy consists of copper, tantalum and lithium. It is able to withstand extremely high temperatures and pressures without deformation, which makes it promising for use in aerospace and heavy industry.
“The new alloy uniquely combines the excellent conductivity of copper with the strength and durability on the scale of nickel-based superalloys,” — said study co-author Martin Harmer, professor emeritus of engineering at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Traditional nickel alloys used in high-load conditions — for example, in gas turbine engines or chemical equipment — have excellent strength and heat resistance, but do not provide sufficient electrical conductivity. It was this problem that was overcome thanks to the new alloy.
The scientists created the alloy structure by sandwiching copper and lithium between two layers of tantalum, a metal known for its corrosion resistance. The addition of lithium made it possible to change the crystal structure, which significantly increased the strength and increased the heat resistance of the material. As a result, an alloy with excellent electrical conductivity was obtained, which can withstand a temperature of up to 800°C and a pressure of up to 1120 megapascals at room temperature — which is one and a half times the ultimate strength of steel.
“This provides industry and the military with a basis for creating new materials for hypersonic and high-performance turbine engines,” Harmer explained.
