Is it just marketing or is there an actual structural difference?
In: 807
I can’t answer specific to aluminum, but I know that for things going into space, we have to putin them into chambers where the temperature is brought up and down over a long period of time, long test times doing this, logging, ensuring it still functions. I imagine that space grade aluminum would simply mean it is tested in a similar manner, won’t warp or degrade in space.
Saying that, I have no idea if they even use aluminum in space.
So I work for a national defense contractor in the space industry. Space grade aluminum is usually a type of aluminum alloy that is a mixture of aluminum and other metals. A common aluminum used in aerospace industry is 7075 aluminum, a zinc-aluminum alloy. Like how steel is a stronger alloy of iron, 7075 aluminum exhibits more desirable properties than pure aluminum. Things like strength, stress resistance and how it fatigues
With that being said, in terms of marketing non aerospace products: it’s usually just jargon to impress customers lol
Edit: that is not the end all be all aluminum used, it’s just an example. Space grade could mean many different types of alloys.
I design a lot of aluminum parts. Strength is the key difference between grades. There can be more than a three fold difference between the yield strength of the better grades (6061, 2024 and 7075) and the basic aluminum you’ll get it your spec isn’t specific. They all have similar density and stiffness. Of my favorite grades 7075 is the strongest but 2024 is a bit tougher which is really important if fatigue is a concern. Even among identical grades the source matters. I find Alcoa is very consistent from batch to batch.
If it is real “aerospace grade aluminum”, it is qualified to a specification (say AMS 4050 for 7050 aluminum). That includes strict quality controls for material composition (exactly what percent of each alloying element), minimum strength requirements and test methods, inspection criteria, etc. It is higher quality metal because all aspects of it is more stringently controlled…if it is actually procured per an aerospace spec (AMS, etc). For a dog cage…yah, that’s a scam.
They usually claim it’s aircraft grade. I would assume them calling it space grade means it’s not actually a high strength aluminum or they would actually say what the alloy is.
Aluminium comes in various grades, most aluminium objects are made from a 6000 series alloy like 6061 or 6082, they’re soft and cheap with few additives, but there’s 7000 or 2000 series alloys like 7075, 7074 or 2024 that are much stronger because they have alot more alloying elements in them, like copper which makes them more expensive.
They may be using a high strength alloy or maybe a low strength alloy certified to a higher standard but “space grade” is mostly nonsense
If it lists the alloy in the 6000 range it’s just aluminium, if it’s in the 2000 or 7000 range it’s the good stuff
Source : trust me I’m an engineer
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