Success of Southwest Aluminum, Chinalco in Manufacturing 5 meter Diameter Huge Aluminum Ring
25/02/2008
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) sent a letter in recent days, saying that the academy has successfully built the carrier structural frame part for the new generation of large-scale launch vehicle using the 5 meter super-large aluminum alloy ring recently manufactured by Southwest Aluminum. The ring can fully satisfy the requirements of follow-up processing, putting an end to our history of being unable to make super-large aluminum ring, which is of great significance to developing China’s aerospace science and technology industry.
The large aluminum ring is the key connector for launch vehicle. With the rapid development of China’s aerospace industry, the large thrust launch vehicle is in urgent need of 5 meter super-large aluminum ring, which is the key factor for the success of the launch vehicle. The research and manufacture of 5 meter ring is very difficult as it sets extremely high requirements on equipments, technology plan and organization of production, especially the large-size, high-presicion, and thin-wall special structures, which, to meet the requirements of follow-up processing, raise extremely stringent requirements on mechanical properties and residual stress control of the ring.
With the purpose of meeting the urgent need for major national projects, Chinalco, before the project proposal of large thrust launch vehicle was formerly confirmed, pooled capitals with its own efforts to fully support the launch of the production line for 5 meter super-large aluminum ring, and also allocated funds for research of the ring within Chinalco’s science and technology foundation. Southwest Aluminum overcame many difficulties to invent the processing technique with independent IPR. The company has successfully worked out 5 meter super-large aluminum ring with low residual stress and high mechanical properties, laying a solid foundation for the follow-up processing of carrier structural part of the new-generation large-scale launch vehicle, therefore making significant contribution to the successful development of big thrust launch vehicles.
